Many of the core flavors of Korean food are built from a family of fermented soy-based condiments known as jangs.
Gochujang is traditionally made by hand-mixing a slurry of soybeans, sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice), salt, malt and chili powder then fermenting the mixture in large clay pots under the sun. The fermented rice sugars give gochujang its sweetness and thick, almost sticky consistency, while the fermented soybeans contribute umami. The addition of stir-fried mushrooms in this version also adds a rich, earthiness.