Seonjit-guk

Seonjit-guk
Alternative namesSeonji-guk
TypeGuk (Korean soup)
Region or stateKorea
Main ingredientsCoagulated ox blood, beef broth, vegetables
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Seonjit-guk (Korean: 선짓국) is a traditional Korean soup (guk) made with coagulated cow blood called seonji (선지). It is a popular hangover soup (haejang-guk). Bone broth, tripe (cow stomach), and napa cabbage are common ingredients. It is rich in iron, protein, and cholesterol.

History

It is unclear when seonji began to be used in foods, but references to it span hundreds of years.

In late 19th century, Korea saw an increase in meat consumption, producing an influx of meat byproducts like intestines and blood. As a result, seonjit-guk, then known as uhyeoltang (우혈탕; 牛血湯), became an affordable commoner's dish. Seonji was also used as a cheaper alternative for cow bones.

The stew was further popularized as the recipe was featured in the popular 1924 cookbook Chosŏn mussang sinsik yori chepŏp (조선무쌍신식요리제법; 朝鮮無雙新式料理製法), and the daily newspaper The Dong-A Ilbo. In the 1930s, the first restaurants dedicated to the stew were established in Seoul and Incheon.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Seonjitguk". Standard Korean Language Dictionary. National Institute of Korean Language. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ↑ "9. Seonjitguk (cow blood soup)". The Korea Herald (in Korean). 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  3. ↑ Eun-byel, Im (2018-05-10). "[Epicurean challenge] Blood soup for non-vampires, seonjitguk". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  4. ↑ 김, 귀영. "선짓국". 한국민속대백과사전. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  5. 1 2 이, 훈법 (September 19, 2025). "외국인도 공감하는 한국의 '시원한 맛' 해장국". 월간중앙.
  6. ↑ 디지털타임스 (2025-06-01). "[정래연의 요리조리] 한번 맛보면 '피'할 수 없는 맛 '선지해장국'". 디지털타임스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ↑ "선짓국, 반세기 넘어 만난 어머니의 맛". Incheon In. November 15, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-18.