Eating with Seoul: a vegans guide to surviving in South Korea.

It’s no secret that following a plant based diet in Korea hasn’t been the easiest of things. It’s the land of the meat eating, BBQ loving, fried chicken partying. Korea and ‘vegan’ do not usually come hand-in-hand; it was difficult and daunting arriving in a foreign country with this extra obstacle to overcome. But fear not my fellow vegan explorers – Korea is not a total meat frenzy. As I approach the one year mark, I’ve found some awesome vegan havens, some quirky alternatives to traditional cuisine and a few useful phrases – so here’s my guide for surviving in Korea on a plant based diet.  

Christmas in Korea

I’ve had twenty-three years of stockings, bucks fizz breakfasts and pigs in blankets (pre-veggie days). But this year was different, I was in South Korea – 9 hours ahead in time and thousands of miles from a traditional English Christmas.

Busan Firework Festival; a view from one in a million

It’s been pencilled in the calendar since July. Finally we were off to see the Busan Fireworks Festival – an event that promised spectacular views on a city-defining beach, with over a million spectators. In five and a half hours, we’d travelled from our small town in Gwangju-si, to the ‘City of Tomorrow’ and upon arrival we knew we were in for something special. 

Sassy Flea Market in Spontaneous Seoul

The variety of Seoul never ceases to amaze me. Take this morning for instance; whilst I was eating my PB & J, Charlie stumbled upon an Instagram post from a favourite brewery of ours, saying they had a pop-up stall at a ‘flea market’ in the car park of a swanky Gangnam hotel – very Korean.

Feature: The American Influence in South Korea

Across the country, trains are packed and traffic is jammed as people prepare for Korean thanksgiving – yes, thanksgiving – the holiday as American as pumpkin pie and parades.

The Life of an ESL Teacher in South Korea

It usually starts with green tea and yoga practice. 

The One at the Beach

Two little words have the power to brighten up any teacher or students week; summer vacation. I am once again in the education sector and delighted to be cashing in on those sunny days off.

Beers, Bakeries and Bamboo Massages.

It’s not all fun and games.

Konglish

We’re official aliens, hoorah. We have received our Alien Registration Cards and are fully-fledged foreign teachers in Korea. Contrary to the name, this means we can now explore more of this incredible country and the local delicacies.

Arrival in Korea.

Anyong Haseyo!

After a couple of weeks, we are finally settled in to our new lives in South Korea. We are living in an apartment in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggido (a providence just outside of Seoul), with our academy right around the corner.