Korean Salt-Grilled Pork (Pork Belly and Neck BBQ)
Doejigogi-gui is Korea's quintessential salt-grilled pork, made by seasoning thick slices of pork belly or neck with nothing but coarse salt and grilling them over charcoal or on a hot pan. With no marinade to mask it, the quality of the pork itself determines the flavor, and thick-cut belly needs patient cooking over medium heat so the fat layers render fully-rushing over high flame leaves the fat chewy and the exterior burnt. Blotting excess rendered fat with paper towels during cooking ensures the meat grills rather than deep-fries, preserving the smoky char flavor. Garlic slices grilled alongside the pork, a dipping sauce of sesame oil mixed with salt, and fresh lettuce leaves for wrapping create the classic Korean barbecue experience where rich meat meets crisp vegetables in every bite.
Adjust Servings
Instructions
- 1
Sprinkle a little coarse salt over the pork.
- 2
Heat the grill or pan and place pork on it.
- 3
Grill over medium heat, turning as each side becomes golden.
- 4
Grill garlic cloves alongside the pork.
- 5
Serve with lettuce leaves and a salt-sesame dipping sauce.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Tips
Nutrition (per serving)
More Recipes

Korean Grilled Pork Belly
Samgyeopsal-gui is Korean grilled pork belly, the country's most iconic barbecue dish, where 400 grams of pork belly is cut into ten-centimeter lengths and grilled on a preheated pan or griddle over high heat without added oil-the alternating layers of fat and lean render enough grease to cook the meat in. Flipping only once, after four to five minutes per side, is critical because frequent turning lets juices escape before the fat has properly rendered and crisped. Once golden and cooked through, the meat is cut into bite-sized pieces with scissors, and thinly sliced garlic is toasted on the same surface until lightly browned. Each piece is eaten wrapped in lettuce with ssamjang, grilled garlic, and green onion, and an optional side of green onion oil dip-sesame oil mixed with salt and chopped scallion-adds nutty depth and a sharp allium kick on top of the pork fat's richness.

Korean Grilled Cabbage Leaf Wraps
Baechu kimchi gui ssam takes napa cabbage to the grill, charring the leaves before using them as wraps for grilled pork belly and doenjang-based ssam sauce. A whole cabbage head is halved lengthwise, brushed with sesame oil and sprinkled with salt, then grilled over high heat for two to three minutes per side until the outer edges char while the inner layers remain slightly crisp. Pork belly is grilled separately until golden and sliced into bite-sized pieces. The ssam sauce, a blend of doenjang, gochujang, minced garlic, and sesame oil, is spread on a grilled leaf, topped with pork, and rolled into a wrap. Each bite combines the smoky sweetness of the charred cabbage, the fatty richness of pork, and the salty fermented punch of the sauce. Grilled cheongyang chili on the side adds extra heat. The cabbage must not stay on the grill too long, or it loses all structure and cannot function as a wrap.

Korean Grilled Pork Neck (Salt-Seasoned Fatty Neck Cut BBQ)
Dwaeji-moksal-gui is Korean salt-grilled pork neck sliced one centimeter thick and seasoned with nothing more than coarse salt and black pepper before searing on a blazing grill. The neck cut is threaded with fine intramuscular fat that renders during cooking, producing a self-basting effect and a rich, porky flavor that needs no marinade-the best pieces have roughly a seven-to-three fat-to-lean ratio. Each side should cook for under two minutes over maximum heat to develop a dark sear while keeping the interior moist; flipping too often drops the surface temperature and produces a steamed, gray result instead of charred grill marks. The standard Korean barbecue way to eat it is in a lettuce wrap with a roasted garlic clove and a dab of ssamjang.

Korean Gochujang Grilled Pork Ribs
Gochujang dwaeji-galbi-gui is a Korean spicy grilled pork rib dish that begins with soaking the ribs in cold water for thirty minutes to draw out blood, then marinating them for at least an hour in a paste of gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, Asian pear juice, garlic, sesame oil, cooking wine, and black pepper. The pear juice serves a dual purpose: its enzymes break down tough muscle fibers to tenderize the meat, while its natural fructose adds a clean sweetness that balances the fermented heat of gochujang. Because the sugar-heavy marinade burns easily, each side is grilled four to five minutes over medium heat before lowering the flame to finish cooking the interior without charring the glaze. Resting the ribs for three minutes before slicing locks the juices inside, keeping every piece moist under its glossy, caramelized crust.

Korean Samgyeopsal Ganjang Jorim (Soy-Braised Pork Belly)
Samgyeopsal ganjang jorim is a Korean soy-braised pork belly dish where blanched pork belly is simmered with radish and onion in a soy sauce base for over forty-five minutes. Blanching first removes impurities and excess fat, leaving a clean-tasting braise. The long simmer allows soy sauce to penetrate the layered pork, building a deep flavor that is savory without being greasy. Radish chunks absorb the pork-enriched liquid and develop a richness of their own, while oligosaccharide syrup lends a natural sheen. Cooling and reheating concentrates the seasoning further, making this a strong choice for gatherings or holiday meals.

Korean Jeju Style Pork Suyuk
Dombae-suyuk is a Jeju-style boiled pork dish made by simmering skin-on pork belly with doenjang, green onion, garlic, and ginger. The doenjang in the cooking water absorbs the pork's gaminess, leaving the meat clean-tasting. A long boil renders the skin translucent and chewy with a gelatinous bite, while the inner layers stay soft and fatty. Sliced thick and served at room temperature, each piece offers a contrast between the springy rind and the tender flesh. It is traditionally dipped in salted anchovy or shrimp sauce and remains a staple at Jeju feasts and celebrations.