Volatile flavor components of soybean pastes, manufactured with traditional Meju and improved Meju, were extrated by simultaneous steam distillation-extraction apparatus and concentrated at atmosphere press. The concentrates were investigated GC-sniff evaluation by preparative gas chromatograph, and then analyzed and identified by GC/MS and Kovats retention index. Thirty nine components, including 11 alcohols, 4 aldehydes, 2 pyrazines, 4 acids, 3 fuans, 3 phenols, 3 esters, 3 hydrocarbons, 1 ketone, 5 miscellous ones were confirmed in soybean paste manufactured with traditional Meju. Twenty one components, including 4 alcohols, 2 aldehydes, 2 pyrazines, 2 acids, 1 fuan, 2 esters, 1 hydrocarbon, 2 ketones, 4 miscellous ones were confirmed in soybean paste manufactured with improved Meju. Ten components such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-methyl-3-heptanol, trimethyl-pyrazine, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, tetramethyl-pyrazine, benzaldehyde, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, naphthalene, 2-ethyl-3-methyl-oxetane were identified together in soybean pastes manufactured with traditional Meju and improved Meju.