This study examined the preferred salinity levels of soups by different demographic groups in order to establish desirable serving conditions for soups with respect to customer satisfaction and health. The salinity levels were measured in August and November to determine seasonal variations using a digital salinity measuring device. Four demographic groups totaling 1,723 individuals were surveyed from institutional foodservice establishments (IFEs) in elementary schools (ES: male 202/female 194), middle-high schools (MHS: 268/216), universities (UNIV: 208/238), and companies (COM: 182/215) in Seoul. Various thin or thick soups typically offered in foodservice establishments were served salty (1.2%) and less salty (0.4%) at $55{pm}2^{circ}C$ in a 50 mL portion. The preferred salinities of the soups were found to be 0.71%, 0.79%, 0.76%, and 0.74% for ES, MHS, UNIV, and COM, respectively. Men had 0.02~0.08% higher preferences than women in ES, MHS and UNIV. The customers also preferred higher salinity levels in November than in August, and in thick soups than in thin soups. The salinities preferred by school children were significantly (p<0.01) lower than those of soups by the IFEs. A similar observation was made for MHS, in which each IFE served the soups with significantly (p<0.01) higher salinities than those preferred by the students. Again, at two COM IFEs, the salinities of the soups served were significantly higher than those preferred by the customers. However, for one of UNIV, the salinity of the served soup was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that preferred by the students, while in the two other UNIV no significant differences were noted between the salinity of the served soup and the level preferred by customers. The surveys showed that 9 out of 12 IFEs served soups having salinities that were significantly higher than those preferred by customers. In particular, regardless of preference, the MHS group was served soups with higher salinity levels than the other demographic groups. The salinities of the soups provided by the IFEs were unnecessarily high for the levels preferred by the customers. Therefore, IFEs should make an effort to serve soups that are less salty soups to enhance public health.