Yongwon HoetjipFresh Cod Soup in Jinhae, and the Milt Steals the Show

The milt is the main event

That white, folded lobe in the middle of the photo is milt — the sperm sac of a male cod.

It is richer and creamier than monkfish liver. Because the cod is fresh rather than frozen, it is on another level entirely. When I think of this restaurant, the milt is what comes to mind first.

The flesh is soft too. This is not something to compare with frozen cod soup. The broth is clear, as in the photo, and getting that much depth out of a clear broth is exactly what fresh cod can do.

What it looks like

A clear broth is boiling in the stainless bowl, with white iri sitting in a winding mass in the middle. Around it you can see large pieces of cod, radish and green leaves, and white foam has spread over the surface right to the edges. Beside it are a plate of seasoned bean sprouts, a red seasoning, and a dish of soy sauce with wasabi stirred in. The broth is on the clear side, without chili flakes.

Menu words

• Iri is the milt of male cod, known for its soft, rich texture. Its name and look may be unfamiliar, so ask the staff before ordering
• Daegu-tang is a stew cooked with cod, and this place makes it in the clear style
• Yongwon is the name of a fishing-harbor neighborhood in Jinhae

Take the course if you can

If your budget allows, have the fresh cod as sashimi, as a pancake and as soup in one sitting. This restaurant offers a cod course.

You will fall for it. For fresh cod, that is.

Soup with the cod pancake alongside is the most common order here. The soup alone is good, but going through the sashimi and the pancake shows you how many faces one fish has.

Honestly — the price and the season

Two things to know in advance.

1. It may strain your budget. Budget 20,000~30,000 KRW per person, and expect that to climb year on year. Fresh cod is an expensive fish. Treat it as a once-a-year restorative meal and it sits easier.

2. Fresh cod is a winter fish. This matters more. The cod soup is what this place is known for once winter comes. If you go in summer, the fresh cod soup may not be available.

If you are travelling far, call first and ask whether fresh cod is on today.

What Yongwon is like, and the same-name trap

This is Yongwon in Jinhae. Administratively it is Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam — but it sits right against Busan's Gangseo-gu.

• It is in the Yongwon fish market area, so sashimi restaurants cluster here
• It is actually easier to reach from western Busan than from central Changwon
• Not far from Gimhae Airport either

A good place to attach to a Busan itinerary — but one thing to watch for: there are two places called Yongwon Hoetjip in Yongwon-dong. This post is the one at 242-6 Yongwon-dong-ro. Check the address when you navigate.

Things that may feel unfamiliar

Saeng-daegu-tang is a clear soup made with fresh cod. Koreans eat it in winter.

• Not spicy at all. The broth is clear with no chili, as in the photo. Safe if you cannot eat chili
• Milt is the sperm sac of a male cod. It is creamy and soft, but it can read as unfamiliar on a first try. You can ask for it to be left out
• The fish has bones. It is cut into sections, so eat carefully
• Dip the fish in the soy and seasoning sauces served alongside. The broth itself is lightly seasoned
• Winter, roughly December to February, is the time to come. The menu can change in other seasons
• This is not a cheap restaurant — expect 20,000~30,000 KRW per person

Fits well, or not so much

• ✅ You have a Busan or Changwon plan in winter
• ✅ You like eating fish in its proper season
• ✅ You like rich, creamy things such as milt
• ✅ You cannot eat spicy food — this is a clear broth
• ✅ You want to compare sashimi, pancake and soup from one fish
• ✅ Your Gyeongsang itinerary is broad enough to also fit Gyeongju's Bulguksa and Cheomseongdae as a separate stop elsewhere in the region (it is not near Jinhae)
• ⚠️ In summer the fresh cod soup may not be available
• ⚠️ It may strain your budget (20,000~30,000 KRW per person)
• ⚠️ Milt is an unfamiliar ingredient for many
• ⚠️ No regular closing day, as far as I know. Sundays can close early if they sell out — call ahead if you're travelling far