• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to footer-bottom navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kimchimari

Authentic Korean recipes even YOU can cook!

Free Korean BBQ Cookbook! TAP HERE to GET IT
POPULAR: our 10 takeout favorites
Facebook YouTube Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Authentic Korean Recipes Anyone Can Cook

  • New to Korean cooking? Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipes by Alphabet
    • Latest on the Blog
  • Ingredients
    • Korean Ingredient Glossary
    • Pantry Essentials
    • Pantry – Beyond Essentials
    • Korean Ingredients in Depth
  • How To
    • Cooking Basics + Tips
    • Buy + Use
    • Meal Plan
    • Make from scratch
    • Korean Veg Garden
  • Travel
  • Videos
    • Video Recipes
    • Web Stories
  • About
    • About Me
    • Press Interviews and Mentions
  • New to Korean cooking? Start Here
  • SHOP
  • Free Korean BBQ Cookbook! TAP HERE to GET IT
  • Facebook YouTube Instagram Pinterest Twitter
Home Condiments and Sauces

Primary Sidebar

jin ganjang in glass gravy boat

Soy Sauce

Korean Name: 간장

Romanization: Jin-Gan-Jang

Also Known As: Ganjang, Whe Ganjang,

Flavor Profile/Texture:

salty umami sweet

Substitutes:

salt, chinese or japanese soy sauce

Goes well with:

meats, vegetables, vinegar, sugar, oil

What is Soy Sauce (Jin Ganjang) ?

Korean Guk Ganjag (Soy sauce for Soup) vs Jin Ganjang (Soy Sauce)
Korean Guk Ganjag (Soy sauce for Soup) vs Jin Ganjang (Soy Sauce)

Ganjang (soy sauce) is a liquid condiment made with fermented soybeans. Fermented bean blocks (meju) are put into brine, then strained and made into bean paste which is Doenjang. The left-over brine is further fermented into Guk Ganjang at first but then when it has matured over 5 years, it grows darker, less saltier and turns into Jin Gangjang.

Because it takes so many years to make Jin Ganjang, people mostly buy Jin Ganjang is the most commonly known type of soy sauce. The commercial Jin Ganjang is made from soybean paste, brine, koji cultures and caramel coloring. 

Koreans use Jin Ganjang in meat marinades, dipping sauces, braising and more.

Not To Be Confused With

Guk Ganjang 국간장 (Soup Soy Sauce), Chinese Dark Soy Sauce

Where and What To Buy

Korean Grocery Stores or Asian Grocery Stores.

Sempio is a well-known soy sauce company with a long history. Make sure you buy "Naturally Brewed" or Yangjo Ganjang 양조간장 but NOT Sanbunhae Ganjang 산분해간장 which is made chemically.

If you can, buy one with a high T.N. number which is a good indication of whether the sauce was naturally brewed or not. Read all about different types and more in my Korean Soy Sauce Guide article on how to buy the best soy sauce.

Here's what I usually buy and use - organic soy sauce by Sempio. Pic below.

But if you can't find this or feel it's too expensive, go for ones that say it's 자연 (natural).

 

Organice Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce by Sempio
Organice Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce by Sempio

How to Use/Cook

Soy sauce are great in

  • dipping sauce
  • marinades
  • braising meats
  • many korean side dishes

How to Clean/Store

Store at room temperature and the soy sauce will keep for years. Can be refrigerated but not necessarily.

Nutrition/Health Info

  • Does not contain the level of isoflavones that are associated with other soy products like doenjang or tofu.
  • High in Sodium content.
Click here to read more about Soy Sauce

Recipes that use it:

Japchae Korean Glass Noodles Closeup

Best Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles) – Authentic and Amazing

Korean Cold Cucumber Soup (Oi-Naengguk)

Bulgogi Hot Pot (Jeongol) Closeup

Bulgogi Hot Pot with Glass Noodles (Bulgogi Jeongol)

Perilla Leaves (Kkaennip Jangajji)

Perilla Leaves Pickled in Tangy Soy Sauce (Kkaetnip Jangajji)

Korean Spicy Soy Pork with Shishito Peppers (Dwaeji Galbi Jjim) cooked in Instant Pot

Instant Pot Spicy Soy Pork Ribs with Shishito Peppers (Dwaeji Galbi Jjim)

Korean cocktail meatballs with Sweet Soy Glaze

Korean Cocktail Meatballs for the Holidays!

Korean Fried Chicken glazed with Sweet Garlic Spicy Soy Sauce

Korean Fried Chicken with Soy Glaze

Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles) one-pan recipe

Simple One-Pan Korean Glass Noodles (Japchae) Recipe

Korean cucumber salad or Oi Muchim(오이무침)

Simple Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim 오이무침)

Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Soy Dressing (Memil Guksu Salad 메밀국수 샐러드)

Best Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Soy Vinaigrette

Korean glazed potato dish finished in pot

Korean Potato Side Dish – Gamja Jorim (감자조림)

Korean Mushroom Rice (버섯밥 Beoseot Bap)

Korean Four Mushroom Rice in Stone Pot (버섯밥 Beoseot Bap)

Cold Buckwheat Noodle Salad (막국수 Makguksu)

Buckwheat Noodles Salad (Korean Makguksu)

Galbijjim/Kalbijjim

Galbi Jjim (Best Korean Braised Short Ribs)

royal ddukbokki (궁중떡뽁이 Goongjoong Ddukbokki)

Rice Cake Stir Fry with Soy Sauce (Gungjung Tteokbokki)

Acorn Jelly (도토리묵 Dotorimook)

Korean Seasoning Sauces II – 4 Yangnyumjang Recipes for Seasoning

Soy Sauce w/ Vinegar (Chokanjang 초간장)

Korean Sauces I (3 Recipes For Dipping)

sweet and salty braised lotus roots

Sweet and salty lotus roots (연근조림 Yeonkeun Jorim)

  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Next

References:

Healthline

Korean Ingredient Glossary!

Learn about over 100 popular Korean ingredients in our new ingredient glossary!

Explore Ingredients
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
featured on
ny times logo
  • COOK
    • Recipe Index
    • Pantry Items
    • Videos
  • LEARN
    • Starter Guide
    • Korean How To’s
    • Travel
join the kimchimari family
Receive Free Cookbook and New Recipes by Email
join now
  • Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
© 2025 Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

free recipe ebook!

Get my FREE cookbook + newsletters + lessons!
Choose all that you wish!
Thank you for subscribing!