Trying to find gluten-free ingredients in South Korea? Noodles are a staple in Korean cuisine, but many traditional varieties are made from wheat containing gluten. Fortunately, several gluten-free noodle alternatives in South Korean grocery stores and specialty shops. Whether you’re craving traditional Korean dishes or looking to explore international flavors, here’s a list of gluten-free noodles you can find or make in South Korea. Information Lens This article recommends noodles as an ingredient for home cooking. When eating out, keep in mind that the noodles might not have gluten but the sauces or broth might have gluten. Specifically, avoid anything with soy sauce and gochujang. That said, let’s talk about what gluten-free noodles exist in South Korea. Traditional Korean Gluten-Free Noodles Let’s start with the gluten-free noodles you can find in Korean food. You can purchase these in most neighborhood grocery stores. Remember that you will need to double-check the allergy warnings on any mass-produced foods. That said, the following noodles should be gluten-free: Buckwheat Noodles (메밀국수) Sweet Potato Noodles (당면) Rice Noodles (쌀국수) Tofu Noodles (두부면) International Gluten-Free Noodles Korea also hosts a strong selection of international noodles which also have gluten-free varieties. You can find these in World/Asian Marts and online shops like Coupang: Rice Vermicelli (쌀국수) Quinoa Noodles (키노아 면) Shirataki Noodles (실라타키 면) Chickpea Pasta (병아리콩 파스타) Brown Rice Pasta (현미 파스타) Lentil Pasta (렌틸 파스타) Soba Noodles (Gluten-Free) (소바 면) Tips for Choosing Gluten-Free Noodles Even though the previously listed noodles SHOULDN’T have gluten in them, you need to double-check everything first. Here is what we recommend: Final Thoughts on Gluten-Free Noodles Incorporating gluten-free noodles into your diet in South Korea is entirely feasible with the growing availability of safe and delicious options. Whether you prefer traditional Korean styles or international varieties, there’s a wide range of gluten-free noodles to suit your taste and dietary needs. By exploring different types and brands, you can enjoy a diverse and satisfying noodle repertoire while maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle. Embrace the culinary diversity South Korea has to offer, and don’t hesitate to experiment with new flavors and textures that align with your gluten-free requirements. With the right knowledge and resources, your gluten-free journey in South Korea can be both enjoyable and delicious! South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Interest in vegan food continues to grow across South Korea. This prompted new and old organizations to start programs to certify products as vegan. Here is more information on one such organization, the Korea Agency of Veng Certification and Services which created a Certified Vegan label in Korea. Some Companies Cerifying Food Vegan in Korea In South Korea, several organizations certify products as vegan. Businesses can hire such companies to review their products and provide a certification that helps boost consumer faith that these products are indeed vegan. These organizations also offer consultation on creating vegan products and often help promote veganism within the culture. It is important to note that companies certifying vegan products operate within a capitalist framework. This presents a business opportunity, so businesses should consider this when searching for vegan food certification. Smaller vendors might not afford these certifications, but this does not make their food any less vegan. Therefore, businesses should learn to read labels effectively to find “accidentally vegan” products. Learn how to read labels to find “accidentally vegan” products. Five Companies Organizations Capitalizing on Vegan Labeling Businesses can hire the following organizations to certify their products as vegan. Such certifying companies ensure businesses meet specific criteria that exclude animal-derived ingredients and animal testing: Korea Agency of Vegan Certification and Services (KAVCS): (Which we further discuss in this article) Korean Standards Association (KSA): WECERT Korean Vegetarian Union (KVU): Vegan Society of Korea: The previous organizations play a crucial role in supporting the growing demand for vegan products in Korea. Their certification marks help consumers easily identify products that align with vegan values and contribute to the overall growth of the vegan market in the country. Now, let’s take a closer look at how the largest of the vegan certifying organizations operates. About the ‘Certified Vegan’ Status in Korea The Certified Vegan labeling is managed by the Korea Agency of Vegan Certification and Services (KAVCS). Founded in 2018, the KAVCS made itself responsible for evaluating and certifying products as vegan, ensuring producers meet the standards and requirements necessary to be considered free from animal-derived ingredients and animal testing. The agency provides certification for food and cosmetics. KAVCS is a Private Organization It is important to note that the KAVCS is a private organization. Headquartered at the Hanyang Institute of Technology on the campus of Hanyang University, KAVCS operates independently to provide certification services, ensuring products meet the vegan standards required for certification. As a private entity, it works with manufacturers, producers, and businesses to certify their products as vegan, ensuring transparency and reliability for consumers looking for vegan options. Although a private organization, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved KVAS as a vegan certification agency in 2018.  KAVCS Responsabilities The organization provides oversight of the following: Obtaining a Certified Vegan Certification To obtain a Certified Vegan certification in Korea, businesses must follow a series of steps typically outlined by KAVCS. The below information represents an overview of how such a certification occurs according to their website: KAVCS Funding Sources The KAVCS, being a private organization, typically receive funded through various sources such as: It is unclear which specific funding sources the KAVCS utilizes, but their website implies that they collect Certification Fees, charge for consulting services, and provide training programs. If anyone knows the specifics, further information would be appreciated. It is desirable that organizations are more transparent about the costs of certification, as these numbers are often kept private. In other countries, certification may range between 500 USD to 5,000 USD depending on the complexity of the product. Not All Vegan Korean Food is Certified Vegan Since becoming certified as vegan in Korea is new and privately managed, many vegan food items may not be labeled vegan. This is why consumers also need to know how to identify “Accidentally Vegan” food in Korea. Read More About Living as a Vegan in Korea More articles about veganism on the South of Seoul Blog. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Moving to South Korea as a vegan and wondering how you will survive? Well, it’s not actually that hard these days. Plant-based foods continue to grow in popularity across Korea and many can be shipped right to your house. This will likely be a blog in progress that gets updated over time. Getting Started on Your Vegan Kitchen The first month is the hardest for vegans moving to South Korea. The first reason is that you are trying to find vegan options in a whole new country, you can’t read the language, and you are waiting for your residency card, phone, and bank account. During that time we recommend ordering food online as soon as you arrive. Here are some sites to order from. We created this list by reading online blogs, interviewing local vegans, and visiting Korean box stores. We also pulled both from Western and Korean vegan pantry blogs. Therefore, the following vegan pantry blog for living in Korea mixes and matches items most easily accessed. The following blog post does not list every plant-based, vegan food item available in Korea. It’s simply a place to get started. Grocery Stores with Plant-Based (Vegan) Options The most common stores across Korea that offer plant-based options are Emart, HomePlus, and LotteMart. Smaller World/Asian/Foreigner Marts will also have vegan staples but they may be harder to find in rural areas or too far from your house when you first arrive. You will have the best luck going straight to some English-friendly websites and getting a little help from your co-workers for using your new address. Websites With Plant-Based Options (vegan) Two of the most commonly used websites in Korea are GMarket and Coupang. When you first arrive Gmarket will be the most important because it’s English language-friendly and allows you to shop with a foreign bank account. Coupang is also English friendly but you need a Korean bank account and ID for ordering. Therefore, Coupang becomes useful after you have established residency in South Korea. Both GMarket and Coupang have websites AND smartphone apps you can use. Additional websites to consider once you have Korean residency established and the Google Translate extension added to your browser: Market Kurly, iHerb, Loving Hut, and VegBox. Searching on Gmarket or Coupang One of the most important things to remember is that searching in GMarket and Coupang in English may bring different results than when you search in Korean. The difference in search depends on how companies enter their product data. Therefore, if you search “tempeh” you get different results than when you search “템페.” There will be some overlap, but often more options show if using Korean. This is why South of Seoul volunteers include the Korean search terms that we have the most success using in online searches. The following images show how the searches may vary. We used tempeh as our example: Vegan Products and Flavor Profiles Vary Korea offers its own plant-based products as well as some imported products. Do not expect to find your favorite things from home. Imported products tend to be far more expensive and less environmentally friendly. One of the hardest things about being vegan in Korea may not be finding products, but finding products you are used to using. Local plant-based food products are developed for the local taste. This means that vegan products in Korea tend to be related to Korean recipes and not Western recipes. It also means that, although Korea has a plethora of plant-based food options, they may not be plant-based food options that meet your taste preferences. Heads Up About Pricing Vegan products may be expensive. This isn’t uncommon, especially if it’s imported. HOWEVER, if see something like 100x or 10000x more expensive than usual, it’s because Coupang and Gmarket charge for each time a product is uploaded online. Therefore, companies want to continue to use the same listing. Thus, when they run out of a product they don’t delete it, instead, they make it outrageously expensive so that nobody buys it. Then, when the products are in stalk again, they drop the price. It’s a game they place to keep their costs for posting low but it looks crazy when you see it. Vegan Kitchen Staples For Your Life In Korea Now that we’ve talked about where you can get the foundational items for cooking plant-based meals in Korea, let’s look at a list of what you can easily find online to get you started: Tofu (두부) Wide variety in all Korean grocery stores. However, online you can find many different types of tofu noodles as well. These noodles can be a great addition to your Italian pasta dishes. Common Tofu Types and Terms in Korea: Health and Nutrition Benefits: Legumes (콩과) Korea has a wide range of legumes for vegans to choose from. More than you could possibly imagine and you can learn more about legume names on the Sesame Sprindles blog. It’s legume heaven. However, it’s going to take time to learn about all the different types so we recommend choosing from the following list to get started: Common Legumes in Korea: Health and Nutrition Benefits: Tempeh (템페) Tempeh has become increasingly popular in South Korea but you may need to order it online. If you use a lot of tempeh in your cooking you will want to have this order to your house immediately upon arrival. Tempeh ordered online offers more diversity, quantity, and a better price. Health and Nutrition Benefits: Jackfruit Jackfruit is common in the World/Asian marts but not everyone has this close to them. Additionally, jackfruit ordered online offers more diversity, quantity, and a better price. Health and Nutrition Benefits: Konjac (곤약) Kinjac noodles might be in stores but we have only purchased them online. They also use konjac for creating some plant-based seafood items. Nice to have on hand if you like to try making new types of plant-based meat alternatives. Health and Nutrition Benefits: Kong-gogi – Literally “Soy Meat” (콩고기) Soy meat has been eaten regularly in Korea for ages. It’s only recently been marketed as plant-based. It’s a great item to have in your home because it’s shelf-stable and tastes great. Health and Nutrition Benefits: Vegan Seafood In addition to the soy meat options in South Korea, there are also a number of plant-based seafood options that you should consider trying. Read the Plant-Based Vegan Seafood Options in Korea post to learn more about each of the following items: Vegan Cheese Vegan cheese has only just begun to become part of mainstream life. For example, Papa John’s offers two vegan cheese pizzas. Online you can find a few plant-based vegan cheese options for your Korean kitchen. Available Vegan Cheese: Nutritional Yeast (뉴트리셔널이스트) Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that is sold as a food product. It comes in the form of flakes or as a yellow powder and is often used by vegans and vegetarians as a cheese substitute because of its cheesy and nutty flavor. Health and Nutrition Benefits: Remember, the specific nutrient content of nutritional yeast can vary based on the brand and whether or not it’s fortified. Always check the label to understand its nutritional profile. Rice Go to the store and take in the magical wonder of your new rice choices. We can’t even get into that here. However, we do want to recommend picking up some of the instant rice options for easy dinners and lunches. You can order them or find them at any grocery store or corner mart. They make life a lot easier. The following image shows what the instant rice looks like. It’s what folks who live alone in Korea live off of for real. Noodles Sometimes it feels like Korea runs on noodles. Not only do you have many plant-based noodle options, but you also have many Asian noodles that make all your noodle dishes a bit more fun: Easy to Find Asian Noodles: Easy to Find Western Noodles: 10 Vegan Sauces For Cooking in Korea: Of course, you will need some delicious sauces to help bring your vegan food to life. Try some of the following that can be found online or in some stores. Remember, while many traditional Korean sauces are vegan-friendly, always check labels for any animal-derived ingredients, especially since some versions may contain fish or other seafood additives. 25 Foundational Seasonings and Spices Easily Found in Korea: The following spices can all be found on Gmarket. However, the small world marts offer a wide variety of additional spices. There are world marts for Desi food, Philipino Food, Thai Food, Vietnamese Food, Russian Food, Etc. However, sometimes it may take time to find these marts when you first arrive in Korea. Such marts often may not have their business listed on Naver. Therefore, we have made a list of items commonly sold at Emart or HomePlus and Gmarket for when you first arrive. Plant-Based Ingredients for Baking in Korea: Vegan baked goods took off quickly in Korea with vegan bakeries peppering the country. This will be the most common kind of vegan food. However, you may find that you would like to do some backing at home. Here are the ingredients you can easily access and their Korean names: Please note that while many of these terms are translations of English terms, some of them are direct transliterations (phonetic translations). This occurs because they may not be traditionally used in Korean cuisine and have been introduced more recently. Always check the packaging or ask locals for further clarification when shopping in Korea. Warning about flour: Korean flower acts VERY differently than Western baking flour. Additionally, the humidity causes things to act very differently. Expect to have some failures and frustrations when you start baking in Korea. If you stick with it, you will find what works. Read More About Vegan Living in Korea Would you like more information about living and eating as a vegan in Korea? Click Here to read more South of Seoul Articles. Join Plant-Based Pyeongtaek Would you like to share your plant-based information or would you like to learn from others? Join the following Facebook group. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Are you a Muslim traveler or resident in South Korea, feeling overwhelmed by the lack of halal food options? Fret not, because help is at hand! In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the city of Incheon, uncovering its hidden gems of halal food options. From restaurants to grocery stores, we’ve compiled a list of halal options that will make your food hunt a breeze. Additionally, we’ll be sharing some useful tips and tricks to help make your search for halal food in Incheon a less stressful experience. Read on to find out more! Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Halal in Korea Halal is an Arabic word that means “lawful or permitted.” The term halal is generally used in reference to Islamic dietary practices, but it extends to other Islamic practices as well. When I first arrived in Korea, one of my main worries as an observing Muslim was access to halal and Muslim-friendly food. While living in Songdo, Incheon, I found it (understandably) challenging to access strictly Halal options as Songdo is a fairly new city. However, with a bit of research and helpful recommendations from new friends, I was able to locate halal food options near Songdo in the Incheon area. Korea has a Muslim population of over 200,000. As the Muslim community continues to grow in Korea, so do the halal and Muslim-friendly food options. The diversity of the Muslim population in the area creates a wonderful environment to enjoy and explore a variety of halal cultural cuisines. Continue reading to discover some of the halal resources available in Incheon. DISCLAIMER Please note that the restaurants mentioned in this blog may self-certify as halal, but they may not have official certification from a recognized halal certification authority. The information provided in this blog post is based on research and recommendations, but it’s always advisable for individuals to exercise their own discretion and verify the halal status of the establishments before dining. About Incheon Incheon, officially named the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시), is in the northwestern region of South Korea. You can see the city of Incheon (인천시) outlined in blue on the map to the left. Incheon is made up of 8 districts (-gu) and 2 counties (-gun). Many islands of Incheon extend into the Yellow Sea. The Jung-gu district of Incheon is home to the Incheon International Airport (sometimes called the Seoul–Incheon International Airport), which is the largest airport in South Korea. And it’s likely the airport you arrived at when you reached Korea! Incheon is bordered by Seoul and Gyeonggi Province by land to the East. A subway ride from Incheon to Seoul can take anywhere between 1 to 3 hours depending on where you are traveling to or from. We recommend using Naver or Kakao Navigation apps when visiting Incheon. Both Naver and Kakao Navigation have English. Halal Restaurants in Incheon There are a variety of halal and halal-friendly restaurants in Incheon for a quick bite or a sit-down meal with friends and family. The restaurants below are only a few of the locations listed in the South of Seoul app in the Incheon area. Download the South of Seoul app for easy access to halal options in your area. Bupyeong-dong Bupyeong-dong, Incheon-si exists near Bupyeong Station. Dongchun-dong Dongchun-dong, Incheon-si exists near the Songdo Golf Club. Ongnyeon-dong Ongnyeon-dong, Incheon-si exists near the Songdo Golf Club. Songdo-dong Songdo-dong, Incheon-si exists near Incheon National University Station, Technopark Station, Campus Town Station, and more. Please note that Swagat India Restaurant is not advertised as halal, but they do offer Muslim-friendly seafood and vegetarian options. Yeonsu 2-dong Yeonsu 2-dong, Incheon-si exists near Yeonsu Station and Woninjae Station. Yonghyeon-dong Yonghyeon-dong, Incheon-si exists near Inha University Station. Halal Grocery Stores in Incheon If you prefer cooking at home or are craving a home-cooked meal, visit the halal grocery stores in Incheon for what you may need. The marts have a variety of offerings like halal meats, herbs, spices, international food products, and more. Gojan-dong Ongnyeon-dong Seoknam-dong Online Resources and Apps Along with the growing number of Muslim-friendly restaurants and grocery stores in South Korea, there are now several convenient online delivery options available for those seeking halal groceries. The following websites offer a range of halal meats, spices, produce, pantry staples, sweets, and more. Yes!Halal Al Bazaar Coupang MUFKO App South of Seoul App Naver Maps/Kakao Maps General Local Resources The local mosques/masjids listed on the Seoul Central Mosque website may be able to provide additional information and resources for Muslims residing in Korea. Additional Tips for Muslim-friendly Food in Korea Aside from halal meat options, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan restaurants are also great options for Muslim travelers or residents. Korea is a peninsula, so there is an assortment of fresh seafood offerings throughout the country. View the “Online Resources and Apps” section above for helpful tips on finding seafood and vegetarian restaurants. We also want to offer some information that may be helpful during day-to-day shopping and eating out during your time in Korea. Checking Ingredients of Packaged Goods As you’re shopping in Korean grocery stores, it’s important to be able to navigate nutrition information on food packaging to check for non-permissible ingredients. The allergen warning line will generally alert if the product contains meat or uses meat by-products (e.g., gelatin). Learn more in the following SOS blog post which addresses reading food labels: Looking for Halal: Reading Korean Food Labels. Helpful Phrases When Ordering Food Some restaurants may offer foods that contain non-permissible ingredients, but you may be able to ask them to adjust your order so those ingredients are not included. You can try saying or showing the following phrases when placing an order. Translation programs, such as Papago or Google Translate may also be helpful in translating your requests while ordering food. Sharing Halal Information with the Community While the above list provides a good starting point, it’s important to note that there may be additional halal resources in Incheon that are not included. We encourage you to explore and try out different halal establishments during your stay or travels in South Korea. If you come across any new halal or Muslim-friendly spots, we would love for you to share them with us in the South of Seoul groups (listed below) so that we can continue to expand our information and lists. Check out our blog about halal food in the Greater Pyeongtaek area to explore more halal options during your time in South Korea. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. Zahra AlsafiZahra Alsafi is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon, South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan. Ms. Alsafi was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Iraqi refugee parents. Inspired by her community and international experiences, she hopes to pursue public health dentistry with a focus on preventative care for immigrant and refugee populations. She is particularly interested in disseminating educational information through accessible formats. Ms. Alsafi’s public health practicum with South of Seoul Public Health will focus on dental health education for school-aged children and adults in South Korea.

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Struggling to find halal options? As a Muslim person living in or visiting South Korea, searching for halal food can be a challenging task. But worry not, as we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll delve into halal food options available in the Greater Pyeongtaek area. This blog post provides a list of halal restaurants and grocery stores, along with some useful tips to help you find halal food options with ease. Halal in Korea Halal is an Arabic word that means “lawful or permitted.” The term halal is generally used in reference to Islamic dietary practices, but it extends to other Islamic practices as well. When I first arrived in Korea, one of my main worries as an observing Muslim was access to halal and Muslim-friendly food. With a bit of research and helpful recommendations from new friends, I was able to locate halal food options in South Korea, even beyond the capital city of Seoul. Korea has a Muslim population of over 200,000. As the Muslim community continues to grow in Korea, so do the halal and Muslim-friendly food options. The diversity of the Muslim population in the area creates a wonderful environment to enjoy and explore a variety of halal cultural cuisines. Continue reading to discover some of the halal resources available in Pyeongtaek. DISCLAIMER Please note that the restaurants mentioned in this blog may self-certify as halal, but they may not have official certification from a recognized halal certification authority. The information provided in this blog post is based on research and recommendations, but it’s always advisable for individuals to exercise their own discretion and verify the halal status of the establishments before dining. Halal Restaurants in Pyeongtaek There are a variety of halal and halal-friendly restaurants in Pyeongtaek for a quick bite or a sit-down meal with friends and family. The restaurants below are only a few of the locations listed in the South of Seoul app in the Pyeongtaek area. Download the South of Seoul app for easy access to halal options in your area. Paengseong-eup Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek-si exists near Camp Humphreys US Army base. Pyeongtaek-dong Pyeongtaek-dong, Pyeongtaek-si exists near AK Plaza which is also known as the Pyeongtaek Train Station. Sinjang-dong Sinjang-dong, Pyeongtaek-si exists near Osan Air Force Base and Songtan Station. Anjung-eup Anjung-eup exists near Pyeongtaek’s KTX Station which should open in late 2023. Halal Grocery Stores in Pyeongtaek If you prefer cooking at home or are craving a home-cooked meal, visit the halal grocery stores in Pyeongtaek for what you may need. The marts have a variety of offerings like halal meats, herbs, spices, international food products, and more. Anjung-eup Seojeong-dong Tongbok-dong Online Resources and Apps Along with the growing number of Muslim-friendly restaurants and grocery stores in South Korea, there are now several convenient online delivery options available for those seeking halal groceries. The following websites offer a range of halal meats, spices, produce, pantry staples, sweets, and more. Yes!Halal Al Bazaar Coupang MUFKO App South of Seoul App Naver Maps/Kakao Maps General Local Resources Additional Tips for Muslim-friendly Food in Korea Aside from halal meat options, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan restaurants are also great options for Muslim travelers or residents. Korea is a peninsula, so there is an assortment of fresh seafood offerings throughout the country. View the “Online Resources and Apps” section above for helpful tips on finding seafood and vegetarian restaurants. We also want to offer some information that may be helpful during day-to-day shopping and eating out during your time in Korea. Checking Ingredients of Packaged Goods As you’re shopping in Korean grocery stores, it’s important to be able to navigate nutrition information on food packaging to check for non-permissible ingredients. The allergen warning line will generally alert if the product contains meat or uses meat by-products (e.g., gelatin). Learn more in the following SOS blog post which addresses reading food labels: Looking for Halal: Reading Korean Food Labels Helpful Phrases When Ordering Food Some restaurants may offer foods that contain non-permissible ingredients, but you may be able to ask them to adjust your order so those ingredients are not included. You can try saying or showing the following phrases when placing an order. Translation programs, such as Papago or Google Translate may also be helpful in translating your requests while ordering food. Sharing Halal Information with the Community While the above list provides a good starting point, it’s important to note that there may be additional halal resources in Pyeongtaek that are not included. We encourage you to explore and try out different halal establishments during your stay or travels in South Korea. If you come across any new halal or Muslim-friendly spots, we would love for you to share them with us in the South of Seoul groups (listed below) so that we can continue to expand our information and lists. Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group! This South of Seoul moderated community group of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. Additionally, the shared posts introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. Zahra AlsafiZahra Alsafi is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon, South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan. Ms. Alsafi was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Iraqi refugee parents. Inspired by her community and international experiences, she hopes to pursue public health dentistry with a focus on preventative care for immigrant and refugee populations. She is particularly interested in disseminating educational information through accessible formats. Ms. Alsafi’s public health practicum with South of Seoul Public Health will focus on dental health education for school-aged children and adults in South Korea.

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Are you Muslim and wondering what snacks and packaged foods you can eat in Korea? South of Seoul volunteers have put together a guide for reading food labels. The information provided in this post comes from Zahra, a Muslim graduate student who lived in South Korea.

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