Korea's diet culture both 'healthy' and 'toxic,' international students say

K-campus

Published: 29 Jun. 2023, 14:15

Korea's diet culture both 'healthy' and 'toxic,' international students say

An assortment of Vietnamese dishes at a restaurant in Sinchon, western Seoul [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

The word "diet" is synonymous with losing weight in Korea.

At least, that's what most people would think of upon their first encounter with Korea's "diet," pronounced as daieoteu, culture.

While the word, in other parts of the world, usually refers to a pattern of eating one establishes or engages in habitually, the word in Korea refers to limiting food intake or even stopping eating altogether as part of a weight-loss routine. The Korean use of the term also encompasses other weight-loss-related activities, including physical exercise.

Even more intriguing is how seriously Korea takes its "diet" culture.

The variety of Korean diet practices, trends and products are some of the most unique and advanced in the world.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat with three international students to explore Korea's diet culture and hear their experiences associated with it. They provided glimpses of their day-to-day encounters with the culture while living in Korea and shared their opinions on the culture.

Adelina Korganbek, 19, from Kazakhstan, said the variety of healthy food items offered in Korea made dieting easier for her.

"There are options at many cafes and restaurants that include protein-heavy meals and items that are low in sugar and low in calorie count," she said.

Korean lunchboxes [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

As Korean restaurants and food vendors make an effort to create and serve their own dishes with creative renditions of healthy and attractive food, ranging from salad, pasta and even pastries, dieting in Korea is not as challenging as it is in other countries. This also allows Korea to defy the conventional wisdom that healthy food means unappetizing food.

Korganbek experienced this firsthand.

"It wasn't as hard and challenging going on a diet in Korea because of the availability of resources. There are various online marketplaces such as Kurly, Coupang and Baedal Minjok's B Mart that provide easy, affordable and healthy meal options," she said.

Korea's diet culture doesn't end at having attractive, healthy meal options. A wide array of information on food and diet is easily accessible in Korean media, from restaurant recommendations to meal plan reviews.

However, the abundance of such information could have detrimental effects on the average consumer's health, as many of these popular diet ideas and suggestions can bring about unexpected outcomes, Amber Harris, 21, a student from the United States, said.

Harris, in particular, made a note of a diet plan that was once popular online after a rumor circulated that a famous K-pop star was able to lose two pounds a day with the diet.

The diet consists of having an apple for breakfast, two sweet potatoes for lunch and a protein shake for dinner.

This prompted people to post reviews on their social media accounts and share their results online after trying the diet themselves.

Harris believes the wide circulation of these strict meal plans online influences the regular consumer and can potentially contribute to the overall "toxicity of diet culture."

A brunch set at a breakfast food restaurant [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

Calorie counting is another interesting practice that many people in Korea who are on diets take part in, and it has become popular enough to the point where even restaurants have joined in on the trend.

Nicole Bedia, 19, from the Philippines, noticed "a lot of food places in Korea display the calorie count for each item on the menu," saying, "I think it helps people who care about calories [intake]."

Korganbek echoed Bedia's sentiment and said, "This might be very beneficial for those who are looking to [dine out] without worrying about eating too much."

However, Korganbek added that she thinks the widespread practice in Korea can have a negative impact on people's body image and put a stigma on eating.

A Japanese meal set with salmon, soup and side dishes at a restaurant in Seoul. [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

Not everyone is part of the diet craze in Korea, and for some, it's about cultural and dietary differences.

"I have never had to need to go on a diet and feel like most of my friends ignore diet culture since they are foreigners," Harris said.

Korganbek said dieting is simply easier for Koreans with the number of available resources and the characteristics of Korean cuisine.

"Korean diets seem to focus on specific vegetables, fermented food such as kimchi, and lean meat," she said, adding this might not be typical for those from other countries.

Bedia also said that dieting is not as common in the Philippines.

"Although I think fruits and vegetables are cheaper back home, not a lot of people who are going on a diet would have the time to prepare their meals," she said.

A fast-food chain advertisement in Korea shows the calorie count of its ice cream. [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

Essentially, diet culture can be rooted in either desire to be healthy or fit into socially constructed standards of beauty, which are apparent in modern-day Korea. Harris noted she thinks Korean society can tend to be "narcissistic in terms of caring about looks," with "pressure to fit in an ideal beauty standard that is extremely unhealthy."

Bedia is also concerned about the diet culture's effect on the younger generation.

"I think younger people tend to feel more pressure to fit in society and its trends, and they could be huge victims of unhealthy diets circulating in the media," she said.

A pork pasta and salad dish from a Korean restaurant [SOFIA DEL FONSO]

Korganbek said the culture can lead people to have negative body images but also noted that dieting has an upside.

"The desire to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle can lead to positive health outcomes such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving self-confidence and overall well-being," she said.

"It is important to remember that each person's body is unique and that everyone has different needs and goals when it comes to health and wellness. While it is important to take care of our bodies, it is equally important to do so in a way that is sustainable and healthy, both physically and mentally."

BY STUDENT REPORTER SOFIA DEL FONSO [kjd.kcampus@joongang.co.kr]