Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coffeeman]

I was just wondering if either green culture or vegetarianism have taken root in Korea?

What I mean by green culture are things like
- Reusable coffee mugs and shopping bags
- Products made from recycled materials
- Green roofing or the planting of trees around the city to suck up CO2 emissions.
- investment in solar panels or wind energy.

Vegetarianism
I add this topic because vegetarianism is gaining popularity in the west. Not so much for animal issues (I feel), but for personal health.

One does not have to be vegetarian all the time, but it would be nice if the vegetarian option were there - particularly in Korean restaurants.

I imagine Korea, along with most other Asian countries, still find vegetarianism to be a weird way of life from the west - like jogging.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Yes, vegetarianism is still considered strange in Korea . But they better get used to it because it is the way of the future. As far as caring what they think, I gave up caring what Koreans thought of me a long, long time ago. Their opinion isn't relevant. Get strength from within.

[NSMatt]

[brickabrack]

How can any educated person on food politics say that
veg is not the wave of the future?

Self-righteous or not, he is right.

Green in Kor? Would you like a double layer of plastic
with that or triple?
They will get used to it. Make a mark, if only for the
good of humanity and planet earth.

[coffeeman]

From what I hear from some friends that live in Seoul, this city could use some air cleaning. Planting lots of trees would help to suck up some of that nasty air polution.

Korea does have some cool green technology.
I'm thinking about motion sensors that turn on lights in apartment lobbies and escalators. I saw the later at the Jeju airport.

I wonder what the heath statistics in Korea are regarding diet and diseases? I recently read that colon cancer is linked to beef consumption.
I suppose, the more beef you eat, the higher your risk goes.

One thing I love in Korea is the soy beverages. They taste better than the ones at home.

[staticnomad1986]

I heard a lot about how great the recycling and garbage separation program was in Korea before I came. I've been less than impressed. You are supposed to separate the compost waste, recycling, and garbage. You have to buy separate bags for compost waste and recycling from the city.

The really sad part about that? They all get thrown together in one big landfill. At least in my area. There is nothing done with the recylable materials nor the compost waste. It might as well all be tossed in the same bag.

As a vegetarian, I can definitely say that that concept has not caught on at all here (in the country, anyway). I seem to get the "CANNOT COMPUTE" response when I say that I'm vegetarian.

[morrisonhotel]

[coffeeman]

I got the impression a few years ago, in Korea the number of Korean vegetarians was zero.

That may change with some of the Koreans studying abroad coming back to SK to work.

Or get more American movie directors to put vegetarian characters in their films.

[drydell]

Korea is a country that moves quickly..

There was less than 10 SMCH restaurants about 4 years ago in Korea.. now over 50...spreading like wildfire...

burying all the pigs alive because of the foot&mouth turned a lot of Koreans vegetarian after seeing that..

very health conscious country too.. the present meat infatuation (meat = wealth) has probably already peaked...

Actually the average Korean doesn't eat loads of samgyupsal or bugogi all the time ... Most Koreans eat mostly plant based foods with some small amounts of animal food (mostly fish) in their meals - always rice - and often fruit..
Its a high carb diet and they are very slim and healthy from it - I'm pretty sure it's 30 times less obesity than the US currently...

there is a rich tradition of delicious vegetarian food in this country... do not worry..

[coffeeman]

[methdxman]

Few comments that will incite some attacks against me:

1) There's nothing more annoying and gratifying at the same time as seeing an American go into another country and get their panties in a twist everyday cuz they're vegetarian.

Vegetarians from the west are major douche bags:

"Stop saying you're vegetarian if you eat fish! You're not one of us!"

Dude, no one gives a flying f about your eating habits or what you stand for. No one cares about your pseudo-movement. Who gives a crap? Eat whatever you want, everyone else will do the same.

I love veggies too.

2) Korea is like the easiest country to be a vegetarian. It's cheap, and the vast majority of our diet comes from non-meat products. There are tougher challenges in life than finding veggies in Korea. Much tougher.

Don't go to specialty places (which Korea is full of) and go to 백반집's (Baek ban) where they just serve rice, soup and side dishes. Most of the side dishes will be veg and not have any meat in it. Enjoy. Probably cost you 6,000 including unlimited refills on your veggies.

[itistime]

"Vegetarians from the west are major douche bags:

"Stop saying you're vegetarian if you eat fish! You're not one of us!"

Dude, no one gives a flying f about your eating habits or what you stand for. No one cares about your pseudo-movement. Who gives a crap? Eat whatever you want, everyone else will do the same.

I love veggies too.

2) Korea is like the easiest country to be a vegetarian. It's cheap, and the vast majority of our diet comes from non-meat products. There are tougher challenges in life than finding veggies in Korea. Much tougher. "


I can agree with some of this. MOST vegetarians from the west are douche bags. I occasionally eat fish and I don't tell other people what to eat. For the record, Koreans do give a crap what you eat. I've had more inquiries on my eating habits than anything else. Although, a curious co asked me when the first time I had sex was just the other day.

Veggies and fruit in Korea have become quite expensive over the last couple of years. Think you're eating organic?....think again. I challenge you to find veggies or fruit in a market (anywhere in Korea - not your co's personal garden of cabbage) that have never been doused with pest/insecticides or synthetic ferts. You just have to roll with the punches. There certainly are much tougher challenges in life than finding veggies in Korea.

Leading by example is better than getting all preachy, but sometimes lifestyles call for explanations. I don't like to tell people what they should do. Were humans to cut dead animals from their diets, the environment (and humans) would benefit a million-fold.

Korea has a long way to go. The recycling programs are a joke. You can only lead by example in the land of the morning calm. Make a positive impact (or non-impact). Live well.

[myenglishisno]

I'm a vegetarian and couldn't care less if other people decided to attach the vegetarian label to themselves. I just want people to eat less meat and to think more about the food they eat.

Actually, vegetarianism is about to explode in Korea. A few celebrities became vegetarian really and restaurants like Loving Hut are adding new locations all the time and every time I go they're insanely busy.

Again, I could care less about the label, which is why I hardly ever bring it up with people unless it comes up on it's own, like it the situation I'm at a restaurant with my co-workers. The only time I defend or even bring up the fact that I'm a vegetarian is when I'm asked/pestered/backed into a corner.

Which leads me to my next point. I find that Westerners, particularly Americans, give vegetarians a really hard time. Some vegetarians deserve it but it doesn't seem to matter if you deserve it or not. In my case, they fish it out of me and then ridicule me about it.

Koreans just think it's weird but they won't harrass you endlessly about it. Westerners will harrass you endlessly and never drop it.

Some highlights from the last couple months:

"For every animal you don't eat, I'll eat three!"
"You don't eat food, you only eat what food eats!"
"Are you gay?" etc.

Koreans don't do that, at least not to our faces. It annoys me because if I saw a Westerner praying and said: "what are you doing? You know no one can hear you, right?" People would think I was an a-hole and rightly so.

[Louis VI]

[ThingsComeAround]

Vegetarianism is on a slow rise, but vegans... good luck!

Egg is plentiful here. Cheese selection is poor, and most foods have traces of seafood in them.

Some do have allergies to seafood, therefore cannot eat kimchi, most soups, and ddeokppokki.