Combine The Base Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine water, sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and soy sauce. Stir well to integrate all the ingredients.

Cook The Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.

Add The Spice: Once boiling, add the chili flakes. To get the exact heat you want, adjust the amount. Stir the mixture to ensure the chili flakes are evenly distributed.

Thicken The Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and slowly add the cornstarch mixture, stirring continuously to prevent any lumps from forming. The sauce will begin to thicken almost immediately.

Final Touches: After the sauce has thickened to your liking, remove it from the heat. Stir in the fresh lime juice and season with salt to taste. Before serving or storing, let the sauce cool somewhat.