Miyeok guk

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Miyeok guk

Korean name

Hangul	미역국
Hanja	none
Revised Romanization	Miyeok guk
McCune-Reischauer	-

Miyeok guk is a traditional soup of Korean origin made from the sea vegetable wakame. In Korean it is called Miyeok guk (미역국), and when translated by definition into English: wakame = 미역, and soup = 국. It is a soup that is traditionally consumed on one's birthday, and is thought to bring good luck for the rest of the year. It is also recommended for a mother that has just given birth to a child.

It is made by hydrating dried seaweed in water for the recommended amount of time (10-20 minutes). The seaweed will become saturated with water and increase in size significantly. The meat that can be added is usually beef, and it is sauteed in sesame oil usually before adding the water, soy sauce, and other ingredients and bringing the soup to a boil.

German scientists in the early 1900s (reference needed) examined the healing properties of Miyeok guk and found it to be rich in iodine amongst other vital nutrients needed by a mother immediately after giving birth. As a hot flavorful soup, these women rarely get upset from consuming this seaweed soup and often have it as part of their regular diet during the pregnancy phase. Koreans eat this soup on their birthdays to commemorate this period of pregnancy and labor.