Yongsan Korean restaurant for pork gomtang and spicy pig tail: Baekok

A pork gomtang meal near Yongsan Station

Today, I’m sharing Baekok Yongsan, which I visited while looking for a good place to eat near Yongsan Station in Seoul! When you are looking for somewhere to eat around Yongsan Station or Sinyongsan Station, there are so many good spots inside Yongsan I’Park Mall too, right? This time, though, I went to Baekok Yongsan, a place famous for pork gomtang (clear beef-style soup made with pork), haha.

I have always liked gomtang and gukbap (rice soup), so I was curious what pork gomtang would taste like. After trying it, I found it much cleaner and lighter than expected, which I really liked. Not only was the pork gomtang good, but the bulkkorangji I ordered alongside it was better than expected too, so the two made a great combination!

Baekok Yongsan is known for pork gomtang near Yongsan Station in Seoul. We happened to be in Yongsan this time and came by for lunch.

A warm atmosphere unlike a typical gukbap restaurant

Once inside, it felt a little different from a typical gukbap restaurant. The interior had a warm, cozy feel, almost like a Western-style restaurant, so the atmosphere was lovely, haha. Everything was clean and warm overall, making it easy to settle in for a comfortable meal.

For that reason, it would be perfectly fine for a solo meal, but I also thought it would have a nice atmosphere for a date meal in Yongsan.

Ordering pork gomtang and bulkkorangji

We ordered two pork gomtang, Baekok’s signature dish, along with bulkkorangji (spicy stir-fried pig tail). You can adjust the heat level for the bulkkorangji. There were three levels in total, and we chose level 1 to start with something safe.

After ordering and waiting a little, the basic side dishes arrived neatly arranged. They were clean and simple, and went well with the gomtang. Everything had such a tidy presentation that the first impression was good from the start.

Clear yet rich and light pork gomtang

And finally, our pork gomtang arrived! The broth looked very clear and clean, and there was more meat inside than I expected! There was a generous amount of pork, so I think meat lovers would be pleased too.

I tried the broth first, and wow... it was really delicious—better than expected, haha. It looks clear and clean, but when you taste it, it has a subtle richness. It was not overly heavy or greasy, though; it was rich yet light, the kind of flavor that keeps you reaching for another spoonful.

Best of all, the rice does not come separately—it is already mixed into the broth. The soup and rice blend nicely, so there is no need to mix them yourself; you can dig right in. A piece of pork with rice and broth made for such a filling meal, haha.

The heat and texture of level 1 bulkkorangji

Then I tried the bulkkorangji I had been curious about! As the name suggests, it is a dish of pig tail stir-fried in a spicy sauce. We ordered level 1, and the heat was hardly strong at all—rather, it tasted sweet with just a slight spiciness.

So level 1 should be fine for anyone who cannot handle spicy food well, but if you are ordering it expecting a real spicy kick, I would recommend level 2 or higher! Personally, I think I would order level 2 or 3 on my next visit, haha.

Still, the flavor itself was really good. Since it was pig tail, I thought it might be tough or hard, but it was softer and pleasantly chewy than expected. The chewy texture with the sweet-spicy seasoning went well with rice too. Ordering the light pork gomtang and sweet-spicy bulkkorangji together made for a pretty great pairing.

It was so good that I finished every last drop of the broth, haha!

A filling meal in Yongsan

Baekok Yongsan was a place I liked overall: the food was clean and the atmosphere was warm. Its signature pork gomtang had a clear yet rich, light broth, and the generous amount of meat made it filling. Since the rice comes already mixed in, one bowl really leaves you satisfied!

Adding bulkkorangji meant I could alternate between the light gomtang and sweet-spicy pig tail, which made the meal even tastier. However, level 1 bulkkorangji is not spicy, so I recommend level 2 or above if you enjoy heat! If you are looking for a filling place to eat near Yongsan Station or Sinyongsan Station, or a good restaurant near Yongsan I’Park Mall, it could be worth a visit. Baekok Yongsan has a different atmosphere from a typical gukbap restaurant, making it suitable for anything from a solo meal to a date meal! I would recommend it to anyone who likes clear, light, yet rich pork gomtang in Yongsan : )