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Korean food may be one of the things you are most excited about before your trip.
But if you have a serious food allergy, eating in an unfamiliar country can also be stressful.
You may be wondering:
Will restaurant staff understand my allergy?
How do I read Korean food labels?
What Korean words should I show the server?
What if I have a serious allergic reaction?
The most important thing to know is this:
Do not rely on appearance alone.
A dish may contain ingredients that are not obvious from looking at it.
If your allergy is medically significant, you need to communicate it clearly every time you order.
Here is a practical guide for traveling in Korea with food allergies in 2026.
1. Learn This Word: 알레르기
The Korean word for allergy is:
알레르기
Pronounced roughly:
al-le-reu-gi
A useful sentence is:
저는 ___ 알레르기가 있어요.
It means:
“I am allergic to ___.”
For example:
저는 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요.
“I am allergic to peanuts.”
You do not need perfect pronunciation.
For a serious allergy, showing the sentence on your phone is often better than relying only on speaking.
2. Save an Allergy Card on Your Phone
Before coming to Korea, prepare a short message in Korean.
For example:
저는 땅콩 알레르기가 있습니다.
땅콩이나 땅콩이 들어간 음식은 먹을 수 없습니다.
조리 과정에서 땅콩이 들어가는지도 확인해 주세요.
Meaning:
I have a peanut allergy.
I cannot eat peanuts or food containing peanuts.
Please also check whether peanuts are used during preparation.
Screenshot it.
Save it offline.
Do not depend on having mobile data at the exact moment you need it.
3. “I Don't Like It” and “I Am Allergic” Are Very Different
Do not simply say:
“No peanuts, please.”
Staff may interpret that as a preference.
If it is an allergy, clearly use:
알레르기
You want the restaurant to understand:
This is a medical issue, not a taste preference.
4. Korea Has Official Allergen Labeling Rules for Packaged Foods
This is useful when shopping at:
Convenience stores
Supermarkets
Department stores
Food shops
Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requires designated allergenic ingredients to be identified under its food-labeling system.
The current MFDS list includes categories such as:
Eggs
Milk
Buckwheat
Peanuts
Soybeans
Wheat
Mackerel
Crab
Shrimp
Pork
Peach
Tomato
Sulfur dioxide above the specified threshold
Walnuts
Chicken
Beef
Squid
Shellfish including oyster, abalone and mussels
Pine nuts
This makes packaged food easier to check than an unlabeled restaurant dish.
5. Look for 알레르기 on Food Packaging
When buying packaged food, look around the:
Ingredient list
Allergy information
Warning section
You may see allergenic ingredients emphasized separately.
MFDS requires allergen information as part of Korea's food-labeling system for applicable products.
Use a camera translation tool if you cannot read the Korean label.
But for a severe allergy, do not rely only on automated translation if the wording is unclear.
6. Take a Photo of the Entire Ingredient Label
If you are unsure about a packaged snack:
Do not only translate the front of the package.
The front tells you things such as:
Chocolate
Spicy
Strawberry
The important information is usually on the back.
Photograph:
Ingredient list
Allergy notice
Warning information
Then translate that section.
7. Restaurant Food Is More Complicated Than Packaged Food
A packaged product gives you a written ingredient label.
A restaurant meal may not.
Recipes can also vary between restaurants.
So do not assume:
“I ate this dish safely yesterday, therefore every restaurant makes it the same way.”
If your allergy is serious, ask again at every restaurant.
8. Show the Exact Allergen
Do not only say:
“I have food allergies.”
Tell them exactly what you cannot eat.
For example:
Peanut
땅콩
Milk
우유
Egg
계란 / 달걀
Wheat
밀
Soybean
대두 / 콩
Shrimp
새우
Crab
게
Walnut
호두
Buckwheat
메밀
Pine nut
잣
MFDS's official allergen-labeling list uses these ingredient categories in Korea's food-labeling system.
9. Shellfish Allergies Need Extra Clarity
Do not assume that saying:
“No shrimp”
means:
“No shellfish.”
MFDS separately identifies categories including:
Crab
Shrimp
Squid
Shellfish such as oyster, abalone and mussels.
If you react to several types of seafood, list them clearly.
10. Buckwheat Is an Officially Recognized Allergen
Buckwheat is:
메밀
It is one of the allergens specifically included in Korea's official food-labeling system.
If you have a buckwheat allergy, save:
메밀 알레르기가 있어요.
on your phone.
11. Soy and Wheat Also Matter
Soybean and wheat are both included in Korea's designated allergen categories.
If either is a serious allergen for you, do not assume a dish is safe because:
“I can't see bread.”
or:
“I can't see soybeans.”
Ask about ingredients rather than judging visually.
12. Use a Translation App — But Keep the Message Simple
Do not type an entire medical history into a translator.
Use short sentences.
For example:
저는 새우 알레르기가 있습니다.
“I am allergic to shrimp.”
Then:
이 음식에 새우가 들어가나요?
“Does this food contain shrimp?”
Short sentences are easier for both the translation tool and restaurant staff.
13. This Is a Very Useful Question
Save:
이 음식에 ___가 들어가나요?
Meaning:
“Does this food contain ___?”
Insert your allergen.
Example:
이 음식에 땅콩이 들어가나요?
“Does this food contain peanuts?”
14. Ask About Preparation Too
For severe allergies, ingredients are only part of the issue.
Food-allergen safety can also involve unintended contact during food handling and preparation.
MFDS materials emphasize the importance of controlling allergen cross-contact in food production and handling.
A useful phrase is:
같은 조리도구를 사용하나요?
“Do you use the same cooking utensils?”
But if cross-contact could cause a severe reaction, the safest choice may be to avoid a restaurant that cannot confidently answer.
15. Small Restaurants May Have Limited English
Do not interpret this as unwillingness to help.
A small local restaurant may simply not have staff comfortable discussing complicated medical information in English.
That's why your Korean allergy card is important.
Show it before ordering.
If the explanation still seems uncertain, choose another restaurant.
16. Don't Be Embarrassed to Leave
You enter a restaurant.
You show the allergy message.
The staff seem unsure.
They discuss it among themselves.
Nobody can clearly confirm the ingredients.
What should you do?
Leave.
Politely.
There are thousands of restaurants in Korea.
For a medically significant allergy, certainty matters more than finishing the restaurant you found on Instagram.
17. Convenience Stores Can Sometimes Be Easier
For allergy management, packaged convenience-store food has one advantage:
You can inspect the label before buying it.
MFDS's allergen-labeling requirements make designated allergen information available on applicable packaged foods.
That does not mean every convenience-store product is safe for you.
It means you have written information to examine.
18. Don't Trust Only the Product Photo
A rice dish on the package may look simple.
A snack may look like plain crackers.
A dessert may not visually show nuts.
Read the ingredient and allergen information.
MFDS specifically requires labeling of designated allergens because the presence of an allergen may not otherwise be obvious to consumers.
19. Keep the Packaging Until You Finish Eating
If you buy a packaged product and have a serious allergy:
Do not immediately throw away the wrapper.
Keep it until you finish eating.
If something goes wrong, the ingredient information remains available.
That may help you or medical personnel identify what you consumed.
20. Carry Your Own Emergency Medication
If a doctor has prescribed emergency medication for your allergy, travel with it according to your doctor's instructions.
Do not assume:
“I'll just buy the same thing in Korea if I need it.”
Brand names, availability and prescription requirements can differ.
Keep essential medication where you can reach it quickly rather than buried at the bottom of checked luggage.
21. Tell Your Travel Companion
If you have a severe allergy, at least one person traveling with you should know:
What you are allergic to
Where your emergency medication is
What your reaction looks like
What to do in an emergency
If you are traveling alone, keep important medical information easily accessible on your phone.
22. Save Your Hotel Address in Korean
If you need medical help, it is useful to have your location ready.
Save:
Hotel name
Korean address
Phone number
Nearest subway station
You do not want to search for your hotel's Korean spelling during an emergency.
23. If You Have a Serious Allergic Reaction, Call 119
For a medical emergency in Korea:
119
is the emergency number.
Korea Tourism Organization's current emergency guidance lists 119 for medical emergencies and fire/rescue services.
If you are experiencing a potentially serious allergic reaction, seek emergency medical help rather than trying to solve the problem through a restaurant or translation app.
24. Save 119 Before Your Trip
You probably already know your home country's emergency number.
In Korea, remember:
119 — Medical / Fire emergency
112 — Police
These are listed in Korea Tourism Organization's current emergency guidance.
25. 1330 Can Help Tourists With Travel Assistance
The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline is another useful number to save.
Korea Tourism Organization currently operates 1330 for international travelers and lists multilingual assistance including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian.
For an actual medical emergency, use 119.
Think of 1330 as travel assistance — not a replacement for emergency medical services.
26. Prepare Before Going to a Traditional Market
Traditional markets are fantastic places to eat.
They can also involve:
Small stalls
Shared preparation spaces
Busy staff
Limited ingredient information
If cross-contact is dangerous for you, do not assume that pointing at a food and asking:
“No nuts?”
is enough.
Show the full allergy message.
If staff cannot confidently answer, choose something else.
27. Street Food Requires the Same Caution
Street food is often prepared directly in front of you.
That can help you see some ingredients.
But you still may not know everything contained in:
Sauce
Batter
Seasoning
Filling
Cooking oil
Visual inspection cannot replace ingredient confirmation for a serious allergy.
28. Don't Assume “Vegetarian” Means Allergy-Safe
Dietary preference and medical allergy are different issues.
A restaurant may be able to prepare something without meat.
That does not automatically mean the kitchen is free from:
Milk
Egg
Wheat
Soy
Nuts
Other allergens
Tell the restaurant about the allergy itself, not only your dietary preference.
29. Gluten-Free Travelers Should Ask Specifically About Wheat
Wheat is one of Korea's officially designated allergens.
The Korean word is:
밀
If you medically need to avoid wheat, save a Korean explanation rather than relying only on the English phrase:
“gluten-free.”
The exact dietary requirements of celiac disease or another medical condition may be more complex than simply asking whether a dish visibly contains flour.
30. Make Your Allergy Card Stronger Than “No ___”
Instead of:
땅콩 빼주세요.
“Please leave out the peanuts.”
Use:
땅콩 알레르기가 있습니다.
땅콩을 먹으면 안 됩니다.
“I have a peanut allergy.
I must not eat peanuts.”
That communicates seriousness much better.
31. A Useful Allergy Card Template
Copy this and replace the ingredient:
저는 ______ 알레르기가 있습니다.
______가 들어간 음식은 먹을 수 없습니다.
소스나 양념에도 들어가는지 확인해 주세요.
같은 조리도구를 사용하는지도 알려주세요.
심한 알레르기입니다.
Meaning:
I am allergic to ______.
I cannot eat food containing ______.
Please check whether it is also in sauces or seasonings.
Please tell me if the same cooking equipment is used.
This is a severe allergy.
32. Take a Screenshot — Don't Depend on Live Translation
Imagine your phone has:
3% battery
or:
No signal
You still need to eat.
Save your allergy message as:
Screenshot
Phone note
Lock-screen image if necessary
For a severe allergy, I would also carry a printed copy.
33. Have More Than One Safe Food Option
Do not build your entire trip around one restaurant.
Save several alternatives near:
Hotel
Major sightseeing areas
Train stations
If one restaurant cannot accommodate you, you have another choice immediately.
That reduces pressure to take risks because you're hungry.
34. Check Before You Travel Between Cities
If you're going:
Seoul → Gyeongju → Busan → Jeju
research food options before arriving.
A restaurant that worked perfectly in Seoul will not help you when you're in another city.
You do not need to plan every meal.
Just save a few backup options.
35. Keep a Small Emergency Snack
If your diet is difficult to accommodate, carry one packaged food you already know is safe.
This becomes useful when:
Restaurant communication fails
Trains are delayed
You arrive late
Your chosen restaurant is closed
You're traveling in a more remote area
Being hungry makes people take risks they normally would not take.
36. Packaged Food: What to Check First
When buying something in Korea:
1. Find the ingredient section
Translate it.
2. Find allergen information
MFDS requires designated allergens to be labeled on applicable packaged foods.
3. Look for your exact allergen
Do not rely on the product name.
4. If anything is unclear
Do not eat it until you can confirm.
37. Restaurant: What to Do Before Ordering
Step 1
Show your allergy card.
Step 2
Name the exact allergen.
Step 3
Ask whether the dish contains it.
Step 4
If cross-contact matters, ask about preparation.
Step 5
If nobody can confidently answer:
Choose another dish or another restaurant.
38. Save These Korean Words
Allergy
알레르기
Peanut
땅콩
Milk
우유
Egg
계란 / 달걀
Wheat
밀
Soybean
대두 / 콩
Buckwheat
메밀
Shrimp
새우
Crab
게
Walnut
호두
Pine nut
잣
Emergency
응급상황
Hospital
병원
39. The Most Important Sentence
If you remember only one sentence:
저는 ___ 알레르기가 있어요.
“I am allergic to ___.”
But for a severe allergy, use a written explanation with more detail.
40. My Simple Rule for Travelers With Severe Allergies
Packaged food with a clear label
Check the ingredient and allergen information carefully.
Restaurant with staff who clearly understand
Explain your allergy and confirm ingredients.
Restaurant where nobody seems sure
Leave.
Unknown food with no reliable ingredient information
Skip it.
Serious reaction
Call 119.
A Local's Final Tip
Korean food is worth exploring.
Having a food allergy does not mean you have to spend your entire trip eating food you brought from home.
But it does mean you should not rely on:
guessing, appearance, or “probably.”
Prepare one clear Korean allergy card.
Learn the exact Korean name of your allergen.
Read packaged-food labels.
Ask before ordering.
And when the answer is unclear?
Choose something else.
There will always be another restaurant.
Your health is more important than trying one particular bowl of noodles because somebody on social media said you had to eat it.
And save one number before you arrive:
119
Hopefully you will never use it.
But if you have a serious food allergy, knowing it before you need it is part of traveling well.
Welcome to Korea — from a local.
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