EPIK | enjoy,

I have been living in Korea for over a year now and during this past year, I have accumulated a wealth of experience, ranging from teaching methods to Korean customs and way of life. While these experiences have been wonderful and will be deeply cherished, I cannot help but feel upset about not being able to better take part in the rich culinary experiences Korea has to offer.

As a vegetarian, I feel that eating is a constant uphill struggle to fulfill a basic human need. Why? Because South Korea can at times be a carnivore’s paradise. Besides the Loving Hut restaurant chain and a few independent vegan restaurants, virtually all the restaurants in Korea are not vegetarian-friendly. In addition, the price of fresh produce is substantially higher than that of, say, a chicken burger at Lotteria.

Due to Buddhist influences during the Goryeo dynasty, there is some understanding of vegetarianism in Korea. Most Korean restaurants will have at least a couple vegetarian side dishes but main dishes are almost always meat or fish based. I’m not saying the side dishes aren’t great, because they really are, but it would be so nice to be able to eat something that’s more than the equivalent to a small appetizer.

So what exactly is vegetarianism?

The Vegetarian Society provides the definition of a vegetarian as: “Someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits, with, or without the use of dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or by-products of slaughter.”

However, not all vegetarians are vegetarians for the same reason and thus, exceptions to the VS definition of a vegetarian diet exists. Five (5) of the main branches of vegetarianism include:

semi-vegetarian: eats meat, but only fish and chicken
pesci-vegetarian: eats fish
lacto-ovo vegetarian: eats no meat, but will eat dairy products (milk, butter, cheese) and eggs
ovo-vegetarian: eats eggs, but not meat or dairy products
vegan: eats/uses no meat or animal by-products

Why are people vegetarians?

There is no one right answer to why people become vegetarian. Though we can probably unanimously agree that it is out of respect for sentient life, the ethical motivation could have stemmed from a multitude of external sources. While some people don’t kill animals for consumption due to religious beliefs (ie. Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism), others abstain from exploiting animals from an animal rights standpoint. Some people become vegetarians due to health-related reasons (less cholesterol) while others become vegetarians because it is argued that it is a more socially and environmentally conscious diet.

A common misconception in Korea is that people become vegetarian because they want to ‘lose weight’. I don’t think people decide to become vegetarians for such short-term and shallow reasons. The decision to be a vegetarian is a lifelong commitment and rooted in deeper rationales. I can sleep at night being 5 kgs more but I can’t do the same knowing my body is consciously being used as a tomb for animals.

What critics have to say

“Being a vegetarian is unhealthy and can lead to vitamin and protein deficiency.”

Honestly, there are probably more unhealthy omnivores than vegetarians in the world. While following a well-balanced non-vegetarian diet comprising of all four main food groups (grain, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meats) would indeed be considered healthy, most people consume more proteins and fats than is recommended. An excess of animals fats and proteins is difficult for the body to break down and store, eventually leading to kidney failures, osteoporosis, heart diseases, cancer, obesity, and diabetes later on in life. Have you ever heard of an obese vegan? However, proteins and fats from plant based foods are made up of different chemical compounds that our bodies are able to process more easily. The key to a healthy vegetarian diet is to eat a variety of plant sources each day. Foods rich in protein and healthy fats include nuts, peanut butter, tofu, beans, seeds, almond milk, grains, cereals (not the sugary kind), and dark vegetables.

The only vitamin that cannot be obtained through a non-meat source is Vitamin B12. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can get B12 from milk and eggs but vegans get B12 from supplements.

“Being a vegetarian is non environmental because agriculture leads to deforestation and monoculture.”

That depends. On one hand, it probably is a more environmentally sustainable option to eat game in a desert than to cultivate soybeans or rice, both water intensive. However, looking at the farms that exist on arable land, the additional need to cultivate grains and corn is to feed livestock. The negative environmental impacts are further compounded when eating meat and grazing contributes to soil compaction, erosion, harm to native plants and animals, and water and air pollution. Secondly, consider how producing one pound of beef requires approximately 9500 liters of water and one pound of chicken requires about 2500 liters, while one pound of tofu takes one third of that, and a pound of wheat flour takes only 680 liters. It’s also well known that livestock contributes immensely to greenhouse gases, this takes into account methane emission, manure decomposition, and the deforestation for grazing and growing animal feed. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “raising animals for food creates 18% of global greenhouse gases – more than the transportation sector” (2006). In short, no, the vegetarian food industry is not perfect, but it is significantly more environmental than its counterpart.

“Being a vegetarian is expensive.”

If you’re comparing junk food and factory meats (P.S. that sausage isn’t 100% pork, there’s a whole lot of mystery meat mixed in) to fresh produce, than yes. But if you are comparing fresh produce to quality meat, than no. However, I have found a lot of ‘well being’ foods and ‘superfoods’ to be marked up in Korea, which is a bit unfair.

How do I make being a vegetarian work in Korea?

To be honest, I cheat. I know about a dozen vegans in Korea who really make it work but I am not one of them. One of the biggest bonuses of living in a big city like Seoul is to be able to shop in international grocery stores like the ones in Itaewon. There are some international products I’d like to get from places like Shinsegae but they are outrageously overpriced. To cope, I have changed my diet from vegetarianism to pesci-vegetarianism and taken advantage of websites such as iHerb.com. There are also times where I eat foods made with meat broths (I don’t know why they don’t use more vegetable broths). Being vegetarian isn’t about saying “no,” it’s about doing your best. From 2009 to 2014, the number of Americans who have opted for vegetarian meal options doubled to 100 million! They aren’t ready to take on the vegetarian lifestyle all at once but are trying to ease into it, and that is still admirable. People in Korea can opt for popular Korean foods that are vegetarian-friendly or can be altered to suit a vegetarian’s diet such as: kimbap, tteokbeokki, jeons, mook, tofu dishes, kong guksu, sujebi, and bibimbap.

Conclusion

I’m sure Koreans are only trying to be hospitable and kind when they are trying to persuade me to eat meat, but truth of the matter is, I don’t think meat is in any way appetizing. All I see is a plate of flesh from an oppressed being. Over 16 million Americans identify themselves as either vegetarian or vegan, and with that number steadily on the rise, I hope vegetarianism becomes less foreign to Koreans and they realize that there are a multitude of reasons why people choose to be vegetarians, reasons more substantial than losing weight, and respect this lifestyle.

For those serious about becoming a vegetarian, there is a well-known movie called Earthlings. This movie has marked the turning point for many vegetarians around the world. It is very graphic and not suitable for children. You can watch the whole movie for free at http://earthlings.com/?page_id=32

There is also a very supportive online network of bloggers and Youtubers. Some of which are listed here: http://www.runningonrealfood.com/20-inspiring-vegan-food-blogs-to-follow/

Famous people who claim to be vegetarians:

Leo Tolstoy – writer

Leonardo da Vinci – artist, musician, mathematician, inventor, writer

Thomas Edison – inventor, entrepreneur

Albert Einstein – theoretical physicist

Steve Jobs – inventor, entrepreneur

Bill Clinton – former President of the USA

Brigitte Bardot – entertainer, activist

Natalie Portman – entertainer, activist

Paul McCartney – entertainer, activist

Carl Lewis – athlete

Brad Pitt – entertainer, activist

Anne Hathaway – entertainer, activist

Jared Leto – entertainer, activist

Olivia Wilde – entertainer, activist

Lea Michele – entertainer, activist

Tobey Maguire – entertainer, activist

Jay Z and Beyonce – entrepreneurs, entertainers

Jennifer Lopez – entertainer

Mike Tyson – athlete, activist

Alicia Silverstone – entertainer, activist

Joaquin Phoenix – entertainer, activist

Ellen Degeneres – entertainer, activist

Pamela Anderson – entertainer, activist

Lee Hyori – entertainer

Works Cited

Bost, Jay. “The Ethicist Contest Winner: Give Thanks for Meat” The New York Times. 3 May 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Protein” Nutrition for Everyone. USA.gov, 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

Gavin, Mary. “What’s a Vegetarian?” KidsHealth. The Nemours Foundation, Sep. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2006). Livestock’s Long Shadow:Environmental Issues and Options. Rome, Italy: FOA.

Desert-Island-Magic-Wand I don’t even know how to start this post…

It’s incredible how people are so willing to help others just because. They see there is something within their power with the potential to positively impact a stranger’s life and just go for it. They don’t ask for anything in return or hold a debt over the recipient’s head. They just want to help. Last week, Humans of New York‘s Indiegogo campaign finished and the project raised about 14x its original goal, to a sum of over $14 million! The funding will cover costs associated with the school’s summer programs, annual trips to Harvard University, and a scholarship fund for the students at Mott Hall Bridges Academy. The scholarship will be eponymous to the student who started it all: Vidal. But to make this all happen, Vidal and HONY didn’t do it alone. There was Vidal’s mother, Ms. Lopez, and the teachers at MHBA constantly inspiring the young scholars. There was Indiegogo, setting a platform to “empower people to activate the global community to make ideas happen”, the funders, and people who spread the word to give it as much traction as possible.

A couple months ago, I wanted to share Christmas with the students of Namyang Elementary School and Dongyoung Middle School. Not just the gift-giving, but the ‘wow, people care about me’ part too. So, I wrote a post introducing the idea and linked it to Facebook. People started volunteering and sharing the post and soon all the students were paired with a friend/friend of a friend/family member. Posts introducing the individual students (here, here, and here) were uploaded so that the volunteers could put a face to the name and get to know the student(s) a little before preparing their present(s).

Slowly the small pile of presents at my Toronto house started to grow into this mountain and once they were all collected and organized, my family helped deliver them to me in Korea. Once the finishing touches were added (gift wrapping, card writing, etc.), they were brought to their respective schools and distributed during a very belated Christmas party.

Needless to say, the students were blown away. They kept asking if they knew these volunteers and were so touched to know that people they’d never met would do something so nice for them.

Thanks to YOU, the Christmas Wish project has been realized and isn’t just a hopeful idea. You’re awesome and I’m so lucky to have such kind people in my life ❤ A lot of people were made happy thanks to your compassion. I hope you have an amazing 2015! Much love x

Thank you Jean Audrey and ENVS178, for teaching me how to use spreadsheets.

Taking the presents out of the boxes. This was agonizing for the students lol

Eager little Min Seong with Seo Hyeon, Yerim, and Dong Won

Students waiting for their name to be called out.

Whatchu got there Min Gyu? Check out the first grade boys in the back.

Blinking buddies with Tae Hwang

Sneaky peeky Han Gyu

“From whoooooo?”

Aww Ji Yeon ❤ I want to touch your sweater and Yerim, your slippers are dope.

Thank you to Dong Il for adding a pair of gloves to each of the 6th graders’ presents as a graduation gift! Here’s Jisu receiving her presents along with Chan.