One of my favorite ways to explore everyday Korean life is through food shopping. A small neighborhood market may seem like an ordinary place to pick up groceries, but its shelves are full of opportunities to discover unfamiliar ingredients—and learn a little Korean along the way.
Today’s photo is a good example. These round packages of beans might catch your attention, especially if you have never seen them before. The large letters on the label reveal what they are: 청국장 (cheonggukjang), fermented soybeans commonly used to make a hearty Korean stew.
What Is 청국장?
Cheonggukjang is made by fermenting cooked soybeans over a short period, typically a few days. Unlike 된장 (doenjang), the familiar Korean soybean paste aged for much longer, cheonggukjang often has clearly visible beans and a distinctive, strong slightly stinky aroma.
It is an ingredient with personality! If you enjoy foods with bold fermented flavors, it may be something to explore.
A common way to eat it is in 청국장찌개 (cheonggukjang-jjigae), a savory stew. Versions can include tofu, kimchi, onion, zucchini, and green onion, served alongside rice. The wrapped beans in the photo are the ingredient for cooking, rather than a finished bowl of stew.
A Korean Lesson Right on the Package
You do not need to understand every word on a food label to learn something useful. Start with the largest print and work outward.
Here are a few words visible on this package:
The label says 우리콩 (국산), indicating that the product uses Korean-grown soybeans.
You can also see 2026.10.06까지. The word 까지 means “until” or “through.” When reading a food package, look for the wording around the date to understand what that particular date refers to.
Suddenly, a grocery package becomes a small Korean reading lesson.
시장, 마트, and 슈퍼: Where Are You Shopping?
In English, “market” can describe several kinds of shopping places. Korean gives you useful distinctions:
The word 동네 (dongne) means “neighborhood.” Another useful expression is 장보기 (jangbogi), meaning grocery shopping. The verb form is 장을 보다 (jangeul boda).
오늘 동네 마트에서 장을 봐요.
Oneul dongne mateueseo jangeul bwayo.
“I’m shopping for groceries at the neighborhood market today.”
