Managing food allergies

Yes. Packaged foods must declare designated allergens, including eggs, milk, buckwheat, peanuts, soybeans, wheat, mackerel, crab, shrimp, pork, peach, tomato, walnuts, chicken, beef, squid, shellfish, pine nuts and sulfites. They are often shown in a separate box near the ingredient list. The list can change, so check guidance from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Usually not. Most ordinary restaurants are not broadly required to label allergens, so menus often have no such information. Some business types and franchise chains provide allergen details, but in most places you need to ask staff directly. If your allergy is serious, show a written allergy card in Korean and confirm the ingredients.

Write in Korean something like "I am allergic to X. Even a small amount is dangerous. Does this food contain X?" and list exactly what you must avoid. Include hidden sources too, such as soy sauce (wheat and soy) or fish sauce (fish). Carry both a paper card and a photo on your phone so a dead battery is not a problem.

Peanuts can appear in braised peanut side dishes, sweet puffed snacks (gangjeong), hotteok fillings, some sauces, ice cream and bread. Ground nuts are sometimes mixed into sauces or toppings where you cannot see them. Street stalls and market vendors often share utensils, so cross-contact is also a risk.

It can be. Kimchi often contains salted shrimp or fish sauce, so people with crustacean allergies should be careful. Fermented seafood seasonings also appear in stews, seasoned side dishes and some soups. If you cannot confirm that a kimchi was made without seafood, it is safest to avoid kimchi and dishes made with it.

Many soy sauces and some gochujang and doenjang contain wheat, so even dishes that do not look floury can be a problem. Fried foods, pancakes, noodles, dumplings, bread and fish cakes commonly use wheat flour. Choose simple dishes like plain rice, unmarinated grilled meat or grilled fish, and ask about the seasonings.

Naengmyeon and makguksu noodles often contain buckwheat, and buckwheat jelly (memilmuk) and buckwheat crepes (memil-jeonbyeong) are made from it. The buckwheat content in noodles varies by restaurant, so the name alone does not tell you. Buckwheat allergies can cause severe reactions even with small amounts, so avoid noodle dishes you are unsure about.

Yes, it takes extra care. Korean cooking uses sesame oil and sesame seeds constantly, in namul, bibimbap, gimbap, bulgogi marinade and rice cake coatings, among others. Sesame may not be on Korea's mandatory allergen labeling list, so read the full ingredient list on packaged foods carefully.

Soy is everywhere in Korean food: doenjang, soy sauce, gochujang, tofu, soybean sprouts and soy milk. Most broths, marinades and stir-fries include soy sauce or soybean paste. Look for dishes seasoned only with salt or simple grilled items, and ask restaurants in detail about their seasonings.

From November 12, 2026, properly prescribed or purchased personal medicines can generally be carried in up to six containers or a three-month supply, excluding narcotics and other specially regulated drugs. Check official guidance for any specific rules on epinephrine auto-injectors, and carry your prescription or proof of purchase. If you have a serious reaction, call 119 right after using the injector.

Some antihistamines are sold over the counter at Korean pharmacies, and pharmacists can advise you if you describe your symptoms. Bringing the medicine you normally use is still the most reliable option. Trouble breathing or swelling of the lips or throat is an emergency, so call 119 immediately.

Say "Jeoneun ___ allereugi-ga isseoyo" (I am allergic to ___), along with "___ deureogayo?" (does it contain ___?), "___ ppae juseyo" (please leave out ___) and "Jogeumman meogeodo wiheomhaeyo" (even a little is dangerous). For peanuts, it is "ttangkong allereugi-ga isseoyo." Writing it down avoids misunderstandings.

If your allergy is severe, yes. Korean restaurants and snack shops often share frying oil, grills, ladles and broth across many dishes. Even if they leave an ingredient out, the food may not be fully separated, so when the risk is high it is safer to skip that dish altogether.

Look near the ingredient list on the back for a separate allergen box or a phrase saying the product contains a specific allergen. Also note warnings that the product is made in a facility that handles certain allergens. If Korean is difficult, point a translation app's camera at the label.

Egg is common in pancake and frying batters, rolled omelets, bibimbap toppings and bread. Milk shows up in bread, desserts, rosé or cheese tteokbokki and cream sauces. Standard gimbap usually includes a strip of egg. Traditional side dishes and soups contain less dairy, but it is still worth asking.

Anchovy broth, fish sauce, fish cakes and fish powder are used widely in soups and side dishes, so fish may be present even when you cannot see it. Kimchi seasonings and the broth and fish cakes in tteokbokki also count. Always ask about the broth and seasoning in soups and kimchi.

Yes. Korea includes peach and tomato among the allergens that packaged foods must declare, which differs from many other countries. You will see them noted on drinks, jellies, sauces and snacks that contain them. The list can be updated, so check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the current standard.

Many large hospitals in Seoul and other big cities have international clinics that assist foreign patients. The 1330 tourist information line can also help with interpretation and finding medical facilities. For emergencies such as difficulty breathing or confusion, call 119 right away.

Sulfites can be used in wine, dried fruit and some processed foods to preserve them or prevent browning, and they are on Korea's allergen labeling list. Some people with asthma are known to be sensitive to them. Check labels on packaged products and seek medical care if you have symptoms.

Pack the usual medicines, prescriptions, an English doctor's letter and a Korean allergy card. Bring plenty of snacks your child can safely eat, and look up hospitals and pharmacies near your accommodation in advance. Consider travel insurance that covers medical costs as well.