korean ingredients

i didn't grow up with korean food, so it's not innate in my palate to figure out those ingredients.  and hence when i've tried to cook korean food, it's always missing something...until now.  J taught me how to use 멸치젓 and 새우젓...how to make 쌈장...and a variety of similar things...and then with some time on youtube...it's all starting to make sense.  as one of those cooks that uses whatever is available, i don't necessarily stay true to the original recipe....my combinations make koreans frown.  but it's natural to just make soup and then add noodles....but apparently 갈국수 in 된장찌게 is weird.   i'm going to play around with it....turn everything into ccioppino/ 해물찌게. ㅎㅎㅎ.