I'm vegetarian (or vegan) and moving to Korea?

Vegetarian and especially vegan eating in Korea has gotten dramatically easier over the last 5 years but still requires planning. Traditional Korean cuisine uses fish sauce (액젓), shrimp paste, and meat stocks even in seemingly vegetable dishes like kimchi and most banchan. Buddhist temple cuisine (사찰음식) is the gold standard for plant-based Korean food, with restaurants like Sanchon, Balwoo Gongyang (Michelin-starred), and Jirisan in Insadong serving stunning multi-course meals at 30,000 to 80,000 won.

For everyday eating, Itaewon, Hannam, Hongdae, and Yeonnam-dong have the highest concentration of vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants. Plant Cafe, Loving Hut, Veg, and Hwaro Gogi have full vegan menus. Major chains have added options too: Burger King's plant-based Whopper, Lotteria's Mr. Lotte vegan burger, Starbucks oat milk drinks, and Subway's veggie sub. The HappyCow app maps every vegan and vegetarian spot in Korea with reviews, essential for travel outside Seoul. For groceries, iHerb (free shipping over 60,000 won), Lotte Mart's Plant Plate section, Coupang's vegan filter, and Korean brands like Pulmuone Tofu, Beyond Meat at GS25 convenience stores, and Plant Boom make home cooking doable. Useful Korean phrases: 비건이에요 (I'm vegan), 고기, 생선, 계란, 우유 다 못 먹어요 (I can't eat meat, fish, eggs, or milk), and 액젓 빼주세요 (please remove fish sauce). Show waiters a translated card or photo of your dietary needs to avoid confusion.