Korean Job Discussion Forums

mhsw · Joined: 17 Aug 2006

Hi, I'm new to the Korea Forum but I decided to do a random search through old posts for Celiac Disease. I came upon several postings on the subject about a year ago. I wondered if anyone is still living in Korea who is celiac, and also how difficult it is to eat gluten-free over there. Does anyone know of other Celiacs who live well over there? My husband and I are planning to move there in a few months. From what I've read, although Korea is a rice based culture, it sounds like they use a lot of sauces (soy sauce?) that may have wheat? If a fellow celiac reads this, I'd love to hear some tips on what you found works for you... I get really sick if I even accidentally have a bit of gluten so I want to avoid it like the plague. I wonder how hard that will be in my initial couple months before I get the hang of food there. I'd appreciate any help. Also thought of bringing over a suitcase with just some GF flours, packaged of course. However, how realistic is that-- do most appartments even have ovens? Thanks.

canuckistan · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:13 pm Post subject:

Here are some threads concerning gluten-free living in Korea.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=44288&highlight=celiac

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=42284&highlight=celiac

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=35757&highlight=celiac

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Few apartments have ovens, and ESLers rarely get them.

You might find this page a bit helpful, and if you find anything worth adding, just hit 'edit'.

http://wiki.galbijim.com/Wheat-free_diets

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

My godmother did. She suffers from it and she buys rice flour to make her stuff - that, btw, is QED in Korea, since rice flour is popular.

I remember her eating a lot of salmon and fish stuff. As well as veggies. My favourite meal of hers is nachos - not just any old nachos, but nachos topped with sour cream, tomatoes, smoked salmon, olives, lettuce etc etc.. We used to have a lot of fun chopping stuff up and throwing them on to the nachos and pigging out in front of the TV. My husband never quite understood why we enjoyed it but we did. My Godmother is back in Canada now - gosh I miss her!!!

Futooomsh · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Location: Seoul

Yup..Im a Coeliac...been here 8 months, haven't had any massive problems, only been sick twice accidentally.... I was a member of the national coeliac society back home and they gave me an 'identity' card in Korean....has been quite helpful...says what I can & can't eat.

Bread is a bit hard - I have had to resort to making my own using potatoe, soy & rice flour. In one of those old threads though, I think someone mentions a bakery in Incheon that makes GF bread.

I haven't come across Buckwheat yet, which is driving me insane! I haven't noticed alot of soy in korean foods....

PM me if you want to chat more, more info etc.

3baekwon · Joined: 04 Jul 2004

Koreans love buckwheat, but if you're buying something semi-prepared (flour mixes, noodles, etc.) there's usually a very small percentage of buckwheat in it. You can, however, buy bags of 100% buckwheat flour. The Korean is 메밀 / 메밀가루 (mae-mil). It's popular and you'll probably see it everywhere once you know what to look for. Happy baking!

Futooomsh · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Location: Seoul

SirFink · Joined: 05 Mar 2006

I am on a gluten-free diet (simply to be healthier -- try it, kids, you'll see!) and I have no problems in Korea.

As long as you're willing to cook your own food and are selective about what you eat when at a restaurant, you'll have no problems. Plenty of seafood, vegetables, fruits, etc. here.

Yes, there are lots of packaged, processed, sugar-laden, gluten-saturated crap foods here, but you could say that about any country. Just don't eat them.

HydePark · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: Korea

...and, if it's important for your health, you can buy a small oven for $200 or $300 if you look around for deals.

marylinda · Joined: 08 Jan 2007

hi a fellow coeliac here from ireland. i am going to seoul next monday. found this site very helpful so far and i have a list of things from another post that we can eat in restaurants but my son is there and raving about Dakgalbi . It isnt on the list but if anyone can tell me if I can eat it I would be grateful. He hasnt found out the full ingredients yet. thanks in advance.

simone · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Now Mostly @ Home

I have some cookbooks on gluten-free cooking, and a package of some GF pasta my mom left here last time she came around. PM me and they're yours.

I did a lot of reading and figured that I wasn't sick, just hating my last job.

marylinda · Joined: 08 Jan 2007

hi just to let you know that I ate dakgalbi when i was there and it was gorgeous and I didnt get sick. But I did have boulgogi by mistake and did get sick. I loved it there too and would love to have stayed longer.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

http://www.koreabridge.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2342

The two main posters on this thread have celiacs

Doogie · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: Hwaseong City

I have a question for anyone that may know. Do they actually have some kind of medical tests for food allergies? I've been having stomach problems for the longest time now. I go through periods of stomach pain and bloating. I went for a ct scan and a colonoscopy/endoscopy. The doctors said everything seemed O.K.. A friend of mine mentioned that I may have food allergies and not even realize it. Apparently, a lot of people have food allergies and don't know it. I'm asthmatic and very allergic to a lot of airborne things. The airborne things they just determined through scratch tests. It's got me wondering. Anyway, just thought I would ask.

The Aussified Canuck · Joined: 29 Nov 2005

I totally feel for you Doogie. I've experienced similar symptoms for the past couple of years (stomach pain, bloating and nausea) and like you, my gastroscopy/colonoscopy revealed nothing "wrong". Tests for dairy/gluten intolerance also came up negative (although I find that both are major triggers for my symptoms, so I generally avoid it). My suggestion: ask your doctor for a stool sample kit and get tested for parasites.

I ended up being diagnosed with a parasite called Blastocysts Hominis. My doctor prescribed a super probiotic (450 Billion live bacteria per packet) called VSL #3 (available through Ahn Gook Pharmacy in Seoul http://www.ahn-gook.com/). It's quite pricy, but supposedly works 2/3 of the time and is a lot less damaging than the alternative: a triple concoction of antibiotics that causes a lot of nasty side effects and possible nerve damage. I'm about a third of the way through treatment and haven't noticed a huge difference yet...stay posted. I've also begun the Colonix Cleanse and Parasite treatment program (http://www.drnatura.com/colonix_program.phposCsid=6e1ef7e8bec33b0951c6cceb6ff1d287) which is supposed to get rid of various parasites one is apt to encounter in Korea!

Other things that have helped me...

-Beginning the day with a small serving of the gentlest food I can find (ie. mushy brown rice and honey +peppermint tea)

-Scheduling a snack every 2-3 hours (otherwise I get really nauseus)

-Really watching my portion sizes so that I stop eating before I'm uncomfortably full

-Avoiding fatty foods like Samyupsol (sp?) and any soup that has oily red stuff floating on it

-Acupuncture "chim" - very cheap here and nice for temporary relief of symptoms

Good luck. I'll be curious to hear how you go. Feel free to PM me with any other questions/concerns.