7 Best Korean Foods to Improve Skin Health

South Korea is known for its skincare industry, with kbeauty taking over the global beauty scene in recent years with some of the best products for achieving healthy, radiant skin. But good skin comes from within too, and the Korean diet plays a big part in getting a clear, glowy complexion. We take a look at some of the best Korean food you can eat to improve the health of your skin without having to commit to a ten-step skincare routine.

Kimchi

A classic Korean staple food, kimchi is also fantastic for boosting skin health. Kimchi is fermented cabbage that is pickled with garlic and chilli for a spicy, flavourful accompaniment to most Korean dishes.

Is Kimchi Good For Your Skin?

One of the reasons kimchi is so good for skin is that it is a fermented food, which means it’s full of gut-friendly bacteria. Our gut and skin are closely linked - just think about the spots you can get after tucking into a greasy slice of pizza - so by eating food that supports good gut health, our skin can also see the benefits. The amount of garlic in kimchi also contributes to skin benefits, as it contains selenium and antioxidants, which can help slow down the signs of premature ageing, as antioxidants help protect our skin from UV damage. Kimchi is an essential part of the Korean diet for clear skin.

Seaweed Soup

Miyeok Guk, the Korean seaweed soup, is packed full of healthy goodness to help your body and skin. Seaweed one of the primary Korean health foods and is something of a superfood, as it contains nutrients, minerals and vitamins, including omega-3 and iodine, that helps to cleanse our body and reduce inflammation. By reducing inflammation, it can help to soothe skin, reducing redness and limiting breakouts.

Korean Bone Broth

Collagen is important for having healthy, youthful-looking skin as it helps us retain moisture, keeping our skin hydrated, plump, and free from wrinkles and lines. A fantastic source of collagen is bone marrow, so a Korean bone broth like Seolleongtang is a great choice for those looking to improve their skin health. This oxtail broth is really popular in restaurants in Korea.

Jokbal

Jokbal is a dish made from boiled pig trotters, which are cooked in ginger, garlic and rice wine. Trotters are packed with collagen, which helps smooth skin for a wrinkle-free, youthful appearance. While such a dish doesn’t tend to prove popular with Western menus, jokbal remains a firm favourite for Korean diners.

Ginseng

Ginseng is enjoyed as a tea, in soups and as an ingredient in some Korean dishes. It is jam-packed with antioxidants that help to give your immune system a boost, lower stress and clear up skin – another popular Korean health food!

Soybean Paste

Soybean paste contains vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that helps to protect and repair skin. This soybean paste can be used to create stews, soups and sauces for a range of Korean dishes.

Makgeolli

While this is a drink rather than a food, this fermented rice wine has enough skincare benefits to be worthy of this list. You might be surprised to see an alcoholic beverage on a list of things good for your skin, but this drink has a low percentage of alcohol, while the fermentation process brings health benefits to your skin in a similar way to kimchi. Makgeolli contains amino acids and methionine, which help to keep skin firm, while vitamins B2 and B3 help to brighten skin. While it’s not recommended to drink this everyday, swapping your usual alcohol for a glass of makgeolli could make a world of difference for your skin.