The World's #1 Crab Dish Is Korean — And It's the Perfect Post-Dive Meal
TasteAtlas ranked Korea's ganjang-gejang (soy-marinated raw crab) the world's best crab dish at 4.2/5. What it is, why foreign travelers line up for it, and how to pair it with a Seogwipo dive day.
Korea's ganjang-gejang — raw crab marinated in soy sauce — has been ranked the world's best crab dish by the global food magazine TasteAtlas, scoring 4.2 out of 5. Koreans call it the "rice thief" (bapdoduk), because one bite makes a bowl of rice disappear. It's now the second most-booked food experience among foreign visitors to Korea, right after fried chicken.
The key facts
- World #1: TasteAtlas's "world's best crab dishes" ranking, 4.2/5 — the soy-based version is ganjang-gejang; the spicy version is yangnyeom-gejang
- Foreign travelers are booking it: Korean inbound platform Creatrip's trend report puts gourmet bookings at chicken (34%) → ganjang-gejang (24%) → desserts (13%)
- SNS effect: search "gejang" on TikTok or YouTube and you'll find foreign visitors mixing rice into the crab shell like locals — even Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender was spotted eating it in Korea
- K-food's status: in Korea's global Hallyu survey, food ranked as the most popular Korean culture category (55.1%), with 78% having tried Korean food — more than film, drama, or music
What this means for divers and travelers
As an instructor guiding Beomseom dives every day, I can say this with confidence: nothing builds an appetite like diving. After two morning tanks in the sea, a ganjang-gejang set — salty-sweet marinated crab, hot rice, and the finale of mixing rice right in the crab's top shell — is an almost unfair combination.
Seogwipo is a great town for it. Beomseom boat dives usually wrap up by early afternoon, and gejang restaurants sit around downtown Seogwipo and Maeil Olle Market — so "morning dive at Beomseom → gejang lunch" flows naturally. The travel trend the article describes is literally called "K-dive" (diving into everyday Korean life) — do it word for word: a real dive and the rice thief in one day.
The sea comes first. Build that appetite on a boat discover dive — no swimming skills needed.
FAQ
What is ganjang-gejang?
Ganjang-gejang is a Korean dish of raw crab marinated and aged in a seasoned soy sauce. It is eaten with rice — Koreans nickname it the 'rice thief' — and TasteAtlas ranked it the world's best crab dish at 4.2/5.
Is ganjang-gejang safe for first-timers to try?
It is a raw, aged dish, so the texture is soft and the flavor briny — unfamiliar but beloved. Restaurants serving it prepare fresh female crabs with roe; going to a busy specialty restaurant is the best first experience.
Can I dive and eat ganjang-gejang on the same day in Seogwipo?
Yes. Beomseom boat dives usually finish by early afternoon, and gejang restaurants around downtown Seogwipo and Maeil Olle Market make an easy post-dive lunch — no altitude concerns apply to eating after a dive.
Source: The Asia Business Daily (Asiae)
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