KoreaClear · Travel answer
How can I eat with a food allergy in Korea?
Short answer
Tell staff your exact food allergy and ask about ingredients and cross-contact before ordering. If they cannot confirm, do not assume the meal is safe.
A translated note or menu label cannot guarantee safety. For a medical emergency in Korea, call 119.
Practical next steps
- Fill in your exact allergen before showing the Korean note. Ask someone who can check the recipe and preparation, including shared oil and utensils.
- If the answer is uncertain, do not assume the dish is safe. The note is a communication aid, not a safety guarantee. For a medical emergency in Korea, call 119.
Korean message to show or send
저는 ___에 알레르기가 있습니다. 육수·소스·반찬에 들어가거나, 같은 기름·도구로 조리해 섞일 가능성이 있나요? 확인이 어려우면 알려 주세요.
Fill in any blanks, show it, and check the reply you get.
What to do
- Explain the exact allergen and ask someone who can check the preparation.
- Examples of questions to ask: does the sauce, broth or side dish contain my allergen? Are the cooking tools or oil shared? These are prompts for checking preparation, not confirmation that a particular Korean dish is safe.
If that doesn't work
- If staff cannot give a clear answer, choose another option where your requirements can be checked.
- If you cannot explain it in Korean, call 1330 (Korea Travel Hotline) for interpretation.
Check before relying on this
- A translated note or menu label cannot guarantee safety. For a medical emergency in Korea, call 119.
Sources and provider examples
External sources may use another language.
Sources last checked: . Rules, hours and services can change.