Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ZOMGBananas]

Hello all, new to the forums, so would like to take a quick second to say hi! I'm an Australian who has fallen in love with the idea of living and teaching in Korea, and only just recently has the opportunity become a possibility. That said, there is one big issue that could potentially become my worst enemy. I've done a preliminary search online and through the forums here for an answer to this question, but have come up empty-handed (at least specifically on the egg allergy side). Forgive me if it has already been answered elsewhere.

I'm allergic to eggs (anaphylaxis). I carry an epipen with me in the event I should eat something containing eggs. As far as I understand, a severe allergy such as mine is not fully understood in Korea. As such, my question is this: how difficult would it be for me to live in Korea with a severe egg allergy? I know cooking for myself will be simple enough, but eating out is a whole different kettle of fish. I would love to be able to experience the food culture of Korea, but at the same time I wouldn't want to offend people by refusing a food offered to me. Will cooks understand or take seriously a request for a food cooked without egg in any way?

Does anyone have any insight or experience in living in Korea with an egg allergy (or similar)? I guess for me the answer to this question is vitally important - while I'd love to live and teach in Korea, I also don't want to make a commitment as such should my allergy cause life there to be extremely difficult, if you get what I mean.

Thank you kindly, and I look forward to participating in the forums!

[ewlandon]

shouldnt be a big deal. Just learn what has egg in it and what doesnt and dont eat out without a korean friend who turn down free food for you.

Most things dont have egg but you cant really eat bibimbop.

[pkang0202]

I'd say most of the Korean dishes that have Egg is it, you can blatantly tell by looking at it.

However, I would be more worried about food being contaminated by other egg sources. Maybe the spoon used to mixed up a pot of Egg Jjim was the same one to stir your soup.

How sensitive is your allergy?

[ZOMGBananas]

Thank you for the replies so far guys. As per ewlandon's comment, it should be easy enough to compile a list of danger foods and keep away from them.

[northway]

From what I can tell, egg allergies are one of the few that they actually accept and understand. There are a whole bunch of kids at my school with egg allergies who get special food every time we have something with eggs in it.

[ZOMGBananas]

[Skippy]

It can be managed, but I see problems for you.

One what kind of job will you teach? Hagwon or Public school. If public school then you will have politics and hassles concerning eating at lunch time. CoTeachers will ask "Why is he not eating with us?" and think, "Oh he is stuck up, and he hates us".

Language trouble and uncommon sense. Many a vegetarian here will go to a restaurant and ask for NO meat but find their nice fried rice comes with little bits of spam. Or that nice soup comes with some squid. To some Koreans they will consider that a fried rice with out meat. They think your were asking for no beef or chicken. You can know the language or have a nice paper explaining the situation in Korean. BUT some people can still muck it up.

Different uncommon sense - the basic just not understanding and accepting your condition. It can range from oh he just does not like eggs, so we will not tell him what he is eating has some egg. OR Oh? he can not eat eggs so this fried eggs is out but that little bit of egg in the Kimbap is no problem To just plain not accepting it - oh you are lying and being silly.

Eggs are common enough here and you will be surprised where to find it hiding. From soups, salads, sushi/kimbap, side dishes....

Your Epipen. Do not take my word. I remember a previous post about someone needing an allergy pen. He could get it but it involved a whole bunch of running around and a visit to a special drug store that stocked said items. This was in Seoul. If you are posted outside of Seoul amp the difficulties ten fold.

So depending on your how serious it is I would just think again.

A side not in your health declaration form. For the love of God do not put down your allergy troubles (unless it is serious).

[ZOMGBananas]

[northway]

[Skippy]

When I was talking about public school is this. At lunch time. All the kids and teachers eat lunch in a large cafeteria/lunchroom. Sorry no ordering or choosing. Pretty much takes the tray, accept the slop given, and eat. The politics in this area is teachers can be expected to eat with their coworkers together (never mind it is in Korean and they will likely ignore you). Just not being there says is are standoffish and not part of the group. Korea can be very group orientated. Your best move is to go, get a bowl of rice, sit down,eat and be present. Maybe later once your know your way around Korean food you can pick around and refuse eggy foods. Still the Lunch room is all part of the political game of public schools. Sorry you need to play that game if you want to enjoy your time in Korea.

Now with the health deceleration is used to weed out those with serious troubles. The troubles comes up when people in trying to be honest and helpful put down information that will get them refused. Simply put any information besides NO is to much. Like somebody who has some manic depression problem that is mild and they takes some drugs for, will get them a big fat REJECTED stamp with immigration. It is easier for the government to say no and "next!", then to try and understand your situation. Unless your condition is SERIOUS and/or VISIBLE keep it to yourself.

As to the Epipen. Consider buying some extras before you come over. Check out the Korea customs website to see if they will be restricted. Seoul is all nice and good but it is the area in demand. Even some places in Seoul can still be a distance. Hope for and try for cities. Maybe in the end you can travel into Seoul for your stock ups.

Thanks for doing your legwork and asking serious questions.
Here's a hint for you, try using searcheslcafe.com instead of the esl cafe's search. Or use google like thus "site:forums.eslcafe.com/korea Allergies


Good Luck

[ZOMGBananas]

[northway]

[tehdee]

i am anaphylactic to peanuts and shellfish, and severely allergic to all other seafood.

i have lived in Korea for almost four years, and during that time travelled extensively through Asia.

I just thought I should chime in on a couple of points raised so far here...

first--- epipens. bring over as many as you can. period.

second-- rural vs. city... i would strongly recommend living in a city. there is better access to english speaking medical professionals should you have a reaction, there are more options for self-catering, it is easier to relay dietary concerns at restaurants accustomed to serving foreigners, etc... Now, that's not to say that anything outside a 150 km radius of seoul should be off limits, it's suffice to say however, you should pack some egg-free crackers or cheese or fruit or granola in your bag as a backup. before being confident enough with the korean language to explain my concerns, when tripping outside of seoul or major cities here in korea, there were a couple hungry afternoons and nights--- ironically, my go-to is hard boiled eggs and a box of crackers.

third-- health check. dont mention it. not worth it. aids>egg allergy.

fourth-- public school... while some posters have accused the poster who mentioned you may be ostracized or consistently quizzed for not eating with your co workers at the public school lunch time, after working at two public schools and two hagwons, i can emphatically say that yes--- it will cause some awkward situations. alot of the staff at public schools arent used to co-working with westerners, dont understand the western concept of allergy, and will be genuinely perplexed (and jump to irrational conclusions) about your not eating with the rest of the school. that being said in my experience I had some very accomodating direct partner teachers who let me duck around the corner to a kimbap shop for lunch every so often if it was a super fishy or nutty meal. hagwons for the most part though, will have a staff accustomed to dealing with foreginers or who have lived abroad and can draw from experience, and you may even luck out and work for an academy that doesnt require you to eat lunch with the students...

in the last four years living here, there have been some close calls. has it been as hard as rural china, or backwaters Myanmar? --- no.
what i should mention though, that since 2008... there has been an ever increasing vegan movement... that will benefit you greatly. korea-based vegan food sites like aliensdayout.com lists tons of vegan friendly restaurants and vegan societies in seoul. furthermore, awareness is spreading. though veganism is different from an allergy-conscious movement, its an accidentally very helpful resource for people like you and i...

sure the ajumma halfway up the mountain on the outskirts of bumfart nowhere might be a bit confused... but even students and korean coworkers have become more "sensitive" to food sensitivties as korea continues to "adapt" to the influx of foreigners and once foreign dietary concerns...

id be remiss not to mention one last thing... I have met so many people with allergies on visits back home, and read tons of posts on forums such as these of people totally willing to forego something they are passionate about and let allergies hold them back. I'm aware that some people have serious complications, such as airborne allergies and hypersensitivity... but in my experience there is always a solution to any problem, and people-- anywhere, will often go out of their way to accomodate someone in discomfort (usually when you least expect it)....

as an aside, i have actually been developing an online resource for the past year, that is close to launch that is akin to a forum or database for allergy conscious travellers... if you [or anyone reading this post] would like to be involved or contribute, please pm me.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Skippy]