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FOOD · GUIDE
Carry a Korean allergy card, ask about broth, sauce and shared equipment before ordering, and leave when a restaurant cannot confirm what matters to your safety.
USE IT ON THE TRIP
QUICK ANSWER
WHAT TO DO
List the exact allergens or restriction in Korean and English, including whether small amounts, broth or shared equipment are unsafe. Keep the card offline.
Watch out A generic 'I have allergies' message does not tell the kitchen what to avoid.
Prefer packaged food with a readable label or a restaurant able to explain ingredients. If staff cannot confirm, choose another meal.
Confirm broth, sauce, marinade, kimchi, batter and side dishes. A vegetable-looking dish may contain anchovy, fish sauce, meat stock, egg or dairy.
Look for 원재료명 · 알레르기 · 함유
For a serious allergy, ask whether the same oil, grill, knife, tongs, pot or ladle touches the allergen.
Watch out Removing one ingredient after cooking does not undo cross-contact.
Carry medication exactly as prescribed by your clinician and keep your location and 119 call plan available. Travel companions should know where the medication is.
Watch out This guide does not replace personal medical advice.
Call 119 for breathing difficulty, collapse or another severe reaction and show the Korean allergy card. Use 1330 for non-emergency travel interpretation only.
COMPARE OPTIONS
| Option | Best for | Cost | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaged food with a Korean label | When a regulated ingredient and allergen panel is easier to verify than a verbal answer. | Product price · Immediate label check | Read both the allergen line and shared-process warning; products change. |
| Restaurant able to confirm ingredients | A cooked meal when staff can check the recipe and shared equipment. | Menu price · Ask before ordering | A vegetarian or halal label is not automatically an allergy-control claim. |
| Simple backup meal | Leaving safely when the kitchen cannot confirm the restriction. | Varies · Keep available | Choose a backup you have personally verified rather than a generic recommendation. |
AVOID THESE MISTAKES
Do this instead Ask whether the broth, sauce and shared equipment also contain or touch it.
Do this instead State the exact restriction and confirm each relevant ingredient and cross-contact risk.
Do this instead Show a written Korean card and confirm the answer.
Do this instead Call 119 first for a medical emergency; interpretation help can follow.
TRAVELER FAQ
Korean food-safety guidance requires listed allergens to be marked around the ingredient information and can include a shared-process warning. Translate and check both.
Not automatically. Recipes can include fish sauce or seafood products, so confirm the exact product or kitchen.
No. Meat or seafood stock, sauce, garnish and shared cooking equipment may remain.
No. Religious dietary handling and allergen control are different claims. Ask about the exact allergen and cross-contact.
Call 119 for emergency medical help. Give your location first and show the Korean allergy card.
Every changing rule stays attached to the organization responsible for it.
Last checked August 22, 2026. Korea Era edits these guides from official sources and does not decide eligibility, fares or schedules on your behalf.
