Korean Job Discussion Forums

janafromfrance · Joined: 07 Nov 2009

I wanted to make soup and one of my co-teachers told me to just use the tap water, but another one told me to never use it. I noticed that the restaurants that serve soups near my place use the tap water, what to do...what to do?

blurgalurgalurga · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

Use the tap water! It's fine.
People are afraid of all sorts of harmless stuff here. Tap water is one such item...it's not tasty, if you live in Seoul, but it's perfectly serviceable for cooking.
As far as I know.
I'm pretty sure it's not the tap water that's giving me goiters and lumps. For that I blame the instant coffee packets and cheap cigarettes.

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:31 am Post subject:

Jana, I cook with my tap water all the time. No problems.

fermentation · Joined: 22 Jun 2009

It depends on where you are. Even if the water itself is good, some of the older faucets could make it unsanitary. Personally, I have a water filter but I use the tap when I get lazy and I've had no problems so far. Some people told me not to do it but I'll worry about it if I get really sick.

pangaea · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

I drank the tap water and cooked with it. I think it's fine.

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

I used to use plain tap water for years, but I no longer do. When I had some intestinal issues that could not be traced to anything else, I decided to stop (and so did most of the problems). YMMV.

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

I cook with the tap water but if you're afraid of flourine, chlorine, or any of the metals that might be present in it, then I think they sell Brita filters at Costco.

Triban · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: Suwon Station

It will give you worms.

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

I've drank 3-5 liters of tap water a day as long as I've been here and haven't had any problems - and I live in an older area. Many Koreans are reluctant to use tap water, because it wasn't all that long ago that the water supply was unsafe, but you won't have any problems cooking with it.

TeeRev · Joined: 06 Nov 2009 Location: Daejeon

Yes, you can cook with it, i've had no problems. But I use bottled water for drinking just because it tastes better.

pocariboy73 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003

Sure you can cook with it!

In fact, I've been drinking from the tap for over 10 years now and have never gotten sick from it. Mind you, I filter it through a Brita first.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

Yea. Go nuts if you are cooking with it. I'm a little scared to drink it, but it's probably fine (though I use bottled water for drinking.).