What's the difference between '탕' and '국'?

Question

It seems there are two kinds of Korean soups. Some of them are '국', such as 미역국, 콩나물국, 배추국. But then there are also '탕', such as 갈비탕, 삼계탕. Some even seem to have two names, e.g., '우거지국' & '우거지탕'. What is the difference between '국' and '탕'?

Answer 1

'국' and '탕' are both types of soup that is traditionally eaten with rice in Korean cuisine. Both are soups that are boiled for a long time.

However, ‘국’ has more liquid soup than ingredients and usually you have it as a side to the main dish and rice. ex, 미역 국, 콩나물 국, 무 국, etc.

‘탕’ is made with more solid Ingredients than ‘국’ which is meat, chicken, fish and vegetable. ‘탕’ could be served as main dish and you can have with as rice and kimchi. ex. 갈비 탕, 꼬리 곰탕, 도가니 탕, 감자 탕, etc.