Proven Korean Hangover Cures

If you are in Korea for an extended amount of time, you will inevitably consume some tasty Korean alcoholic beverages. If you wake up with a pounding headache after drinking, you’ll need something to get you back on your feet.

Fortunately, you are in Korea and there are numerous Korean dishes (mostly soups) that are natural hangover remedies. After a night of drinking in Korea, there are a variety of dishes to choose from, the majority of which can be found at neighbourhood restaurants or on hotel room service menus.

Doenjang Jjigae (된장찌개) — Soybean Paste Stew

Doenjang, a condiment usually produced from soybeans and salt, has also been consumed as a health food with anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Eating this generally fills you with a sense of ‘health’ and the same feeling is multiplied after a night out at one of Seouls best drinking spots.

Haejangguk (해장국) — Pork-based Korean soup

The actual name of this pork-based Korean soup is “hangover soup,” and consequently, it is one of the most popular foods to eat in Korea after a night of drinking. You can feel the nutrients pouring back into your alcohol-depleted system as you slurp up the hearty and nutrient-dense soup. Also, Potato Soup (gamjatang) is typically available wherever hyejangguk is sold. The broth is nearly same and will produce the same result.

Gomtang/Galbitang (갈비탕, –湯) — Korean beef based soup

Because of their protein-rich broths, these two soups are famous Korean hangover remedies. On top of that, there are beef slices (gomtang) or meat off the bone (galbitang) to help you feel full. It’s so delicious that you’ll forget everything your grandma taught you about good manners; if you’re hungover and in pain, you’ll slurp every last drop of soup.

Kongnamulguk (콩나물국) — Vegetable-based Korean soup

If you’re a vegetarian in Korea and have a hangover, bean sprout soup is a simple and effective remedy. This Korean soup is loaded with bean sprouts and contains asparagine, which eliminates the acetaldehyde that develops in the body after drinking. This is a common Korean remedy for hangovers. Even if you don’t have a hangover, Koreans think it can help you recover from a cold. There are both spicy and non-spicy variants.

Jjamppong (짬뽕;) is a Korean-Chinese hangover remedy.

Have you ever ordered Chinese food after a night of drinking in your country? The only difference is that this is Korean-Chinese cuisine. Do what the Koreans do and soothe your sore body with this hot noodle soup made with seafood. The heat it provides to both your lips and stomach greatly mitigates the damage you inflicted upon yourself last night. It is the takeout version of hangover remedies.

Honorable mentions:
Yuksu – beef broth, is commonly served in Naengmyun restaurants.
Odenggungmul is a fish cake broth that is offered (for free!) with every purchase by street food sellers.
Ramyun – instant noodles – is a basic, quick, and convenient snack that can be purchased at convenience stores around Korea.

Search for any Korean dish ending in -gook, -gookbap, or -tang. – Most of these will be beneficial. As hangover treatments, stews (jjigae / ) are liked by some, but not all.

Do you have any Korean Hangover remedies? Let me know.