Comments on: How to: Be a vegetarian in Korea

By: Ahimsa Kerp

Ahimsa Kerp — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:02:00 +0000

I guess your mileage may vary. I have seen Koreans who live abroad, who know the word vegetarian in English, repeatedly offer chicken, fish, and spam to people they know are vegetarian.

Also, in Nashville it’s culturally acceptable to change your order. In Seoul, it’s not nearly as okay. I’ve had people refuse, usually quite nicely, to change my meal. But I do think that’s changing.

By: Korean Food Beyond Bulgogi: 12 Dishes You Might Want to Consider

Korean Food Beyond Bulgogi: 12 Dishes You Might Want to Consider — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:22:44 +0000

[...] And if vegetarian food is more your style, Matador Abroad has hints on how to keep yourself well fed in Korea. [...]

By: Ameya

Ameya — Sun, 16 May 2010 00:36:33 +0000

Thank you for this! We’re moving to China soon (where I imagine I’ll have similar problems) but we might be moving to Korea in a few years, so this is good to know!

By: Katelyn Henderson

Katelyn Henderson — Sun, 09 May 2010 10:58:59 +0000

I am also a vegetarian and my body has never been in a very good shape. Being a vegan can really make you much heathier.`’~

By: Quick-n-dirty guide to North Korea

Quick-n-dirty guide to North Korea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:11:38 +0000

[...] Roadtripping the Peninsula, Gonzo Traveler: Surviving the Beef Riots in South Korea, and How to be a Vegetarian in Korea. var ids = new Array; ids.push(3222); Tagged under: Korea, North [...]

By: jeremy

jeremy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:03:51 +0000

I pointed out 채식주의 because you wrote there isn’t a word in Korean for vegetarian when, in fact, there is. Regardless, you did a wonderful job explaining why that word is no guarantee your dinner wasn’t alive at some point beforehand, possibly even while you’re actually eating it.

By: Ahimsa

Ahimsa — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:49:22 +0000

@Jeremy. You make a good point, and to be sure there are some words and phrases you can say. Phrases such as “Gogi han mogoyo” (I don’t eat meat), “Gogi upsoyo” (without meat) or “Chae sheek joowee immneeda” (I am vegetarian). The problem is that Gogi just means beef which still leaves a host of other things a westerner would think of as meat, and “Chasik juui’ is not really used by anyone, to my knowledge. Most vegetarian items say “vegetarian” either in English or Hangul. While there are things you can say, there isn’t one term universally used and because of that, “vegetarian” is the most often used word, in my experience.

@Bessie. Personally, I think Sanchon is worth going to once, but at 30,000 won per person for dinner, it just isn’t seven times better than dolsot bibimbap (5,000 won). I love the varied foods there, but there is another vegetarian place closer to the subway that is half the price and just as good, in my opinion.

By: jeremy

jeremy — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:16:45 +0000

the korean word for vegetarian is 채식주의.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:28:00 +0000

Great article. My mother, who is a vegetarian, will be visiting me in Korea shortly so it was very useful. Maybe I will ask her to bring some Chickpeas!

By: Bessie

Bessie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:08:14 +0000

It’s true that being a vegetarian or vegan can have you missing out on a lot of culinary delights living in Korea. Anchovies and fish slip into almost all kimchi and soups.

A vegan friend of mine has been here 3 years & doesn’t have too hard of a time of it, but he frequents the same bibimbap and tofu restaurants that have gotten to know him. Aside from those main dishes, you can also ask for the pancakes, pajeong without egg and they’re pretty delicious. Sanchon (details in Lonely Planet) in Insadong is an amazing Buddhist feast that’s not to be missed in Korea.