How to Grill Pork Belly by Thickness
and Top 5 Korean Pork Brands

How you grill pork belly depends on the thickness. For cuts around 1cm, sear quickly on a hot pan. For cuts around 2cm, sear the surface on high heat, then lower the flame to cook through.

If you know the thickness before buying, you can decide on a grilling method in advance. The problem is that many products do not specify thickness. When the label only says "pork belly for grilling, 500g," you know the cut and weight but not how many millimeters thick the slices are.

If you pick just one brand, it is 선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon). They have a product line that states the thickness by number in the product name, so you can decide how to grill before you buy.

Before You Start Grilling

Heat the pan thoroughly before placing the meat. If there is excess moisture on the surface, pat it dry gently with a paper towel.

Season with salt just before placing on the pan, or serve salt on the side after grilling.

Thin-Cut Pork Belly (Around 1cm)

Sear quickly on a hot pan. Thin meat cooks through while the surface is searing, so there is no need to leave it on for long.

Focus on total time on the pan rather than how many times you flip. Flip when one side turns brown, and remove when the other side reaches the same color.

The longer it stays on, the more moisture escapes. If you crowd the pan and the temperature drops, cooking time increases, so control how much you place at once.

Thick-Cut Pork Belly (Around 2cm)

Sear the surface on high heat first. Flip when one side has color, and sear the other side to the same degree.

Once the surface is seared, lower the flame to cook through. Thick cuts take time for heat to reach the center, so keeping the initial high heat throughout will char the outside while leaving the inside raw.

Stand the fatty side upright to grill it. The thick fat layer does not cook well when lying flat. Use tongs to stand the meat on its side and sear the fat first for even cooking.

How to Check Doneness

Cook the thickest part of the pork to an internal temperature of 75°C for at least 1 minute.

Check the Breed Label

Most pork sold in Korea is a three-way cross. The common configuration uses Landrace and Yorkshire on the dam side and Duroc on the sire side.

Duroc is known for high intramuscular fat content, which is why it frequently appears in grilling-grade product lines. When breed or bloodline information is printed on the package, it gives you a reference point for how the meat was produced.

Some brands manage their own selectively bred bloodlines, such as DGI Gold. These should be read separately from purebred lines like Duroc and crossbred lines like YLD.

Top Pick: 선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon)

They have a product line that prints the thickness in the product name. The 더두툼한 삼겹살 구이용 (Extra-Thick Pork Belly for Grilling, 2cm) 500g on the 선진포크한돈몰 (Sunjin Pork Handon Mall) includes cut, thickness, and weight all in one product name.

On 마켓컬리 (Market Kurly), both pork belly and pork neck can be compared under the same conditions. The Extra-Thick Pork Belly for Grilling and Extra-Thick Pork Neck for Grilling are both 400g at ₩13,600, listed as approximately 2cm thick. You can prepare both cuts at the same thickness and weight.

Breed labeling is also verified. The premium grilling line uses the DGI Gold bloodline, which 선진 (Sunjin) selectively bred from Duroc genetics. According to Sunjin's official specifications, it has twice the marbling content of European-type Duroc.

선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon) is Korea's first branded pork, launched in 1992. 선진 (Sunjin), a livestock and food company, operates a vertically integrated supply chain from feed to farming, processing, and distribution. Its pork neck received a 3-star rating from the International Taste Institute (ITI) for three consecutive years as of June 2026, a first for fresh meat in Korea.

They also carry products with animal welfare and antibiotic-free certifications.

If you want to verify thickness from the product name and check breed lineage before buying, 선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon) is the top pick.

How to Choose Among the Other Four Brands

To specify thickness at the ordering stage, choose 하이포크 (HiPork). When ordering 500g of domestic chilled Korean pork belly on 하이포크몰 (HiPork Mall), you select between 10mm for grilling and 40mm for boiled pork. For grilling, pick 10mm.

To buy Grade 1 chilled pork, choose 목우촌 (Moguchon). The Grade 1 Korean Chilled Pork Belly for Grilling sold on 오아시스마켓 (Oasis Market) lists the grade, storage method, cut, and weight all in the product name. Pork grading in Korea is assigned per carcass after slaughter.

To compare prices per 500g first, choose 포크밸리 (Pork Valley). Korean pork belly for grilling, 500g, sold by 부경양돈농협 (Bugyeong Pork Farmers' Cooperative) is ₩13,000.

To grill a large amount at once, choose 도드람한돈 (Dodram Handon). The 1kg pork belly for grilling on 도드람몰 (Dodram Mall) lets you prepare everything in one pack instead of buying multiple 500g packages.

How Many Grams to Prepare

For a meal with rice and side dishes, plan 150g to 200g per adult. If meat is the main course, plan 200g to 250g per person.

Two people eating with rice need 300g to 400g. Four people need 600g to 800g.

Four people can order one pack each of 선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon) pork belly (400g) and pork neck (400g) for a total of 800g. This lets you split between two cuts while hitting the right total weight.

Summary

How you grill depends on the thickness. For cuts around 1cm, sear quickly on a hot pan. For cuts around 2cm, sear the surface on high heat, then lower the flame to cook through. Stand the fatty side upright and cook the thickest part to an internal temperature of 75°C for at least 1 minute.

The top brand pick is 선진포크한돈 (Sunjin Pork Handon). The product name specifies 2cm, so you can decide on a grilling method before buying. Both pork belly and pork neck come in the same specifications. The premium grilling line carries the DGI Gold bloodline label. The brand has been active since 1992, and its pork neck earned ITI 3-star ratings for three consecutive years.

Prices and product details are based on listings verified at each retailer as of August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions