Travelers with food allergies should prepare written Korean allergy cards before visiting Korea. Hidden ingredients and cross-contact can be difficult to confirm in busy restaurants, markets, and street food stalls.
Quick Answer
Carry a Korean allergy card, mention severity, ask about broths and sauces, and choose restaurants that can answer clearly. For severe allergies, avoid street food and small kitchens that cannot confirm ingredients.
Common Hidden Allergens
Watch for:
- Sesame
- Soy
- Wheat
- Shellfish
- Fish sauce
- Anchovy broth
- Egg
- Milk
- Nuts
- Gochujang ingredients
Ingredients can appear in sauces, banchan, marinades, and broths.
Allergy Cards
Your card should say:
- What you cannot eat
- That even small amounts are dangerous
- Whether cross-contact is dangerous
- What symptoms or emergency action may be needed
Use clear Korean text.
Cross-Contact
Small kitchens may share knives, grills, oil, pans, or broth bases. If your allergy is severe, this matters.
Do not rely on visual inspection.
Safer Dining Choices
Choose restaurants that can answer confidently. Hotel restaurants, international restaurants, and allergy-aware places may be safer than street stalls.
Bring safe snacks for travel days.
Emergency Planning
Carry medication, know emergency numbers, and keep insurance information available. In Korea, call 119 for medical emergencies.
FAQ
Are Korean restaurants allergy-aware?
Some are, but do not assume.
Should I use an allergy card?
Yes, in Korean.
Is street food safe for allergies?
It can be risky because ingredients and cross-contact are hard to confirm.
What emergency number should I call?
Call 119 for medical emergencies.
Explore more Korea Go Now guides
- Urgent Medical Care for Visitors
- Vegetarian Travel in Korea
- Korean Restaurant Basics