If you're vegan and traveling in Korea, knowing how to say "vegan" is helpful—but it isn't enough.
The biggest challenge when ordering Korean food isn't always obvious meat. A dish that looks completely plant-based may contain fish sauce, anchovy stock, shrimp paste, oyster sauce, dried seafood, or other animal-derived ingredients.
That's why the most useful Korean vegan phrase card doesn't stop at "I'm vegan." It tells the server exactly what you cannot eat.
The key phrase is:
저는 비건이에요.
Jeoneun bigeon-ieyo.
I'm vegan.
But for a safer and more useful conversation, follow it with specific ingredients:
고기, 생선, 해산물, 멸치, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴이 들어간 음식은 먹지 않아요.
Gogi, saengseon, haesanmul, myeolchi, aekjeot, saewoojeot, guri deureogan eumsigeun meokji anayo.
I don't eat food containing meat, fish, seafood, anchovies, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters.
That distinction matters enormously when dining out in Korea.
This guide gives you a practical Korean vegan phrase card you can save to your phone, show to restaurant staff, or practice before your trip. It also explains the Korean words behind the phrases so you can recognize hidden animal ingredients on menus and understand what a server is telling you.
The Most Important Korean Vegan Phrase
If you're wondering how to say vegan in Korean, start with:
비건 (bigeon) = vegan
Korean commonly uses the English-derived word "vegan," pronounced approximately bee-gun.
To say "I'm vegan":
저는 비건이에요.
Jeoneun bigeon-ieyo.
I'm vegan.
A slightly more direct version is:
저 비건이에요.
Jeo bigeon-ieyo.
I'm vegan.
The first version is more complete, while the second sounds natural and conversational.
However, don't assume that saying 비건 automatically communicates every ingredient you need to avoid. In a busy restaurant, especially where staff may interpret dietary restrictions differently, spelling out the ingredients is much clearer.
The Complete Vegan Phrase Card for Korea
Save this section as your basic Korean restaurant phrase card.
1. "I'm vegan."
저는 비건이에요.
Jeoneun bigeon-ieyo.
I'm vegan.
2. "I don't eat meat."
고기를 먹지 않아요.
Gogireul meokji anayo.
I don't eat meat.
3. "I don't eat fish."
생선을 먹지 않아요.
Saengseoneul meokji anayo.
I don't eat fish.
4. "I don't eat seafood."
해산물을 먹지 않아요.
Haesanmureul meokji anayo.
I don't eat seafood.
5. "I don't eat fish sauce."
액젓을 먹지 않아요.
Aekjeoseul meokji anayo.
I don't eat fish sauce.
6. "I don't eat anchovies."
멸치를 먹지 않아요.
Myeolchireul meokji anayo.
I don't eat anchovies.
7. "I don't eat anchovy stock."
멸치 육수를 먹지 않아요.
Myeolchi yuksureul meokji anayo.
I don't eat anchovy broth/stock.
A more natural restaurant question is:
멸치 육수가 들어가나요?
Myeolchi yuksuga deureoganayo?
Does it contain anchovy stock?
8. "I don't eat shrimp."
새우를 먹지 않아요.
Saewureul meokji anayo.
I don't eat shrimp.
9. "I don't eat salted shrimp."
새우젓을 먹지 않아요.
Saewujeoseul meokji anayo.
I don't eat salted shrimp.
10. "I don't eat oysters."
굴을 먹지 않아요.
Gureul meokji anayo.
I don't eat oysters.
11. "Does this contain seafood?"
해산물이 들어가나요?
Haesanmuri deureoganayo?
Does this contain seafood?
12. "Does this contain fish sauce?"
액젓이 들어가나요?
Aekjeosi deureoganayo?
Does this contain fish sauce?
13. "Does this contain anchovy stock?"
멸치 육수가 들어가나요?
Myeolchi yuksuga deureoganayo?
Does this contain anchovy stock?
These are among the most useful vegan Korean phrases for dining out because they address ingredients that may not be visible in the finished dish.
Why Saying "No Meat" Isn't Enough in Korea
One of the most common mistakes when ordering vegan food in Korea is simply saying:
고기 안 돼요.
Gogi an dwaeyo.
No meat.
This can communicate that you don't want meat, but "no meat" and "vegan" aren't necessarily the same thing.
A dish can contain no obvious pieces of meat while still being prepared with animal products.
For example, a vegetable dish might be seasoned with fish sauce. A soup may use anchovy stock. Kimchi may contain salted shrimp or fish sauce. A dipping sauce may contain seafood. A noodle dish may appear vegetable-based but use a broth made from dried fish.
If you only say "no meat," the server may reasonably think the dish is suitable because there are no chunks of beef, pork, or chicken in it.
For vegan dining, the more useful approach is to name the categories separately:
- 고기 (gogi) — meat
- 생선 (saengseon) — fish
- 해산물 (haesanmul) — seafood
- 멸치 (myeolchi) — anchovy
- 액젓 (aekjeot) — fish sauce
- 새우젓 (saewujeot) — salted shrimp
- 굴 (gul) — oyster
That gives restaurant staff a much clearer picture of what "vegan" means for you.
The Hidden Ingredients Vegans Need to Watch For
Korean cuisine includes an enormous variety of vegetable dishes, grains, noodles, tofu, mushrooms, fermented foods, and side dishes. That makes it possible to eat very well as a vegan.
The tricky part is preparation.
Here are the ingredients worth knowing before ordering.
Fish Sauce: 액젓
액젓 (aekjeot) is fish sauce.
It is especially important to recognize this word because fish sauce can be used as a seasoning rather than appearing as an obvious ingredient.
A dish can look entirely plant-based and still contain 액젓.
If you're checking a menu or asking a restaurant worker about a dish, look and listen for:
액젓
To ask whether fish sauce is included:
액젓이 들어가나요?
Does it contain fish sauce?
If you want to emphasize that you cannot eat it:
액젓이 들어가면 먹을 수 없어요.
Aekjeosi deureogamyeon meogeul su eopseoyo.
If it contains fish sauce, I can't eat it.
Anchovies: 멸치
멸치 (myeolchi) means anchovy.
Anchovies are particularly important for vegan travelers because 멸치 육수, or anchovy stock, is commonly used as a soup or broth base.
The anchovies may be removed before the food reaches your table. That doesn't make the broth vegan.
Ask:
멸치가 들어가나요?
Does it contain anchovies?
Or, more specifically:
멸치 육수를 사용하나요?
Myeolchi yuksureul sayonghanayo?
Do you use anchovy stock?
Anchovy Stock: 멸치 육수
This deserves special attention.
멸치 육수 (myeolchi yuksu) means anchovy broth or anchovy stock.
육수 (yuksu) means broth or stock.
When you're ordering soup, noodles, hot pot, or another dish with liquid, don't only ask whether the dish contains meat. Ask what the 육수 is made from.
Useful question:
육수가 뭐로 만들어졌어요?
Yuksuga mworo mandeureojyeosseoyo?
What is the broth made from?
If you specifically need to avoid seafood:
해산물 육수인가요?
Haesanmul yuksu-ingayo?
Is the broth made with seafood?
This is one of the most useful Korean restaurant vegan tips to remember.
Salted Shrimp: 새우젓
새우젓 (saewujeot) is salted, fermented shrimp.
It's especially worth knowing when ordering Korean fermented foods and certain traditional dishes.
Ask:
새우젓이 들어가나요?
Does it contain salted shrimp?
If you're trying to explain the restriction rather than simply asking about one dish:
새우젓도 먹지 않아요.
I don't eat salted shrimp either.
Oysters: 굴
굴 (gul) means oyster.
Oysters can appear in seafood-based dishes, sauces, fermented foods, and other preparations.
Ask:
굴이 들어가나요?
Does it contain oysters?
Shellfish: 조개류
If you want a broader term for shellfish, 조개류 (jogaeryu) means shellfish.
You can ask:
조개류가 들어가나요?
Does it contain shellfish?
For maximum clarity, however, it's often better to combine the broad category with specific ingredients when needed.
A Better Way to Say "Vegan" in Korean at a Restaurant
If you only have time to memorize one longer sentence, make it this:
저는 비건이에요. 고기, 생선, 해산물, 멸치, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴이 들어간 음식은 먹지 않아요.
Meaning:
I'm vegan. I don't eat food containing meat, fish, seafood, anchovies, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters.
This is far more useful than simply saying 비건이에요.
You can show the sentence to the server on your phone if pronunciation feels intimidating. Written Korean can be especially helpful in noisy restaurants or when you're dealing with a language barrier.
The Korean Words That Matter Most for Vegan Dining
Here's a compact vocabulary list worth saving.
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 비건 | bigeon | vegan |
| 고기 | gogi | meat |
| 소고기 | sogogi | beef |
| 돼지고기 | dwaejigogi | pork |
| 닭고기 | dalkgogi | chicken |
| 생선 | saengseon | fish |
| 해산물 | haesanmul | seafood |
| 멸치 | myeolchi | anchovy |
| 멸치 육수 | myeolchi yuksu | anchovy stock |
| 액젓 | aekjeot | fish sauce |
| 새우 | saeu | shrimp |
| 새우젓 | saewujeot | salted shrimp |
| 굴 | gul | oyster |
| 조개류 | jogaeryu | shellfish |
| 육수 | yuksu | broth/stock |
| 두부 | dubu | tofu |
| 채소 | chaeso | vegetables |
Knowing these words helps you do more than order food. It lets you recognize potential problems when reading menus, ingredient labels, or restaurant signs.
How to Ask If a Korean Dish Is Vegan
Instead of asking only:
비건이에요?
Is it vegan?
Try asking about the ingredients.
"Is this vegan?"
이거 비건이에요?
Igeo bigeon-ieyo?
Is this vegan?
This is perfectly useful when a restaurant identifies a dish as vegan.
But if the answer is unclear, follow up.
"Does it contain fish?"
생선이 들어가나요?
"Does it contain seafood?"
해산물이 들어가나요?
"Does it contain fish sauce?"
액젓이 들어가나요?
"Does it use anchovy stock?"
멸치 육수를 사용하나요?
"Does it contain shrimp?"
새우가 들어가나요?
"Does it contain oyster?"
굴이 들어가나요?
"What is the broth made from?"
육수가 뭐로 만들어졌어요?
These questions give you several ways to approach the same problem, depending on the dish.
How to Say "Can I Eat This?" in Korean
When you're uncertain about a dish, this simple phrase can help:
이거 먹어도 돼요?
Igeo meogeodo dwaeyo?
Can I eat this?
For vegan dining, combine it with your dietary restriction:
저는 비건인데, 이거 먹어도 돼요?
Jeoneun bigeon-inde, igeo meogeodo dwaeyo?
I'm vegan. Can I eat this?
If you're showing a written phrase card, this is a convenient question to place directly beneath your dietary requirements.
How to Order Vegan Food in Seoul
Ordering vegan in Seoul can become much easier once you stop treating every restaurant interaction as a simple "vegan or not vegan" question.
Instead, think in three steps:
First: identify yourself as vegan.
저는 비건이에요.
Second: identify the ingredients you cannot eat.
고기, 생선, 해산물, 멸치, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴은 먹지 않아요.
Third: ask about the specific dish.
이거 비건이에요?
Or:
멸치 육수가 들어가나요?
This approach is useful whether you're eating at a dedicated vegan restaurant, a traditional Korean restaurant, a casual noodle shop, or a restaurant recommended by your hotel.
Korean Dishes That Need Extra Ingredient Checks
Some Korean foods are particularly worth questioning before ordering.
Kimchi
Kimchi isn't automatically vegan.
Some varieties are made with fish sauce, salted shrimp, oysters, or other seafood ingredients.
Ask:
김치에 액젓이 들어가나요?
Does the kimchi contain fish sauce?
And:
김치에 새우젓이 들어가나요?
Does the kimchi contain salted shrimp?
Even if the kimchi contains only vegetables at first glance, fermentation seasonings can change the answer.
Soups and Stews
Soup deserves extra attention because of 육수, the broth base.
A vegetable-heavy soup may still use anchovy, seafood, or another animal-based stock.
Ask:
육수가 멸치로 만들어졌나요?
Is the broth made from anchovies?
Or:
해산물 육수인가요?
Is it a seafood broth?
Noodles
Noodles can be another gray area because both the noodles and the broth need to be checked.
Don't assume a bowl containing vegetables and tofu is vegan.
Ask what the broth contains, then ask about sauces and toppings.
Banchan
반찬 (banchan) refers to Korean side dishes.
A table full of vegetable side dishes can look like a vegan feast, but individual banchan may contain fish sauce, shrimp, anchovy, or other seafood seasonings.
Instead of assuming that "vegetable" means vegan, ask which side dishes are made without seafood ingredients.
What to Do When a Server Says "No Meat"
One of the most important moments in a vegan restaurant conversation is when a server tells you:
"No meat."
That may answer a different question from the one you're asking.
If they say there is no meat, clarify:
생선이나 해산물도 없어요?
Is there no fish or seafood either?
Then ask:
액젓이나 멸치 육수도 없어요?
Is there no fish sauce or anchovy stock either?
This distinction is especially useful when you're ordering from a menu where vegan options aren't explicitly labeled.
How to Make Your Vegan Phrase Card More Effective
A good phrase card should be short enough for a restaurant worker to understand quickly.
Avoid giving someone a giant paragraph of dietary information.
Instead, put the most important information first.
Recommended Korean Vegan Card
저는 비건입니다.
저는 고기, 생선, 해산물을 먹지 않습니다.
멸치, 멸치 육수, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴도 먹지 않습니다.
이 음식에 이런 재료가 들어가나요?
비건으로 먹을 수 있나요?
English meaning:
I am vegan.
I don't eat meat, fish, or seafood.
I also don't eat anchovies, anchovy stock, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters.
Does this food contain these ingredients?
Can I eat this as a vegan?
This format works because it explains the restriction and then asks the restaurant to verify the actual dish.
Don't Rely Entirely on Romanization
Romanization—the use of English letters to represent Korean pronunciation—can help you learn phrases, but a written Korean card is often more practical.
For example, a server may immediately recognize:
액젓
while your pronunciation of aekjeot might not be immediately understood.
If you aren't comfortable speaking Korean, keep the Hangul version on your phone.
You don't need to pronounce everything perfectly. Pointing to the Korean phrase and asking the staff to confirm the ingredients can be much more effective than repeatedly trying to pronounce an unfamiliar word.
What If the Restaurant Doesn't Understand "Vegan"?
Don't panic.
Break the request into individual ingredients.
Start with:
고기 안 돼요.
No meat.
Then:
생선 안 돼요.
No fish.
Then:
해산물 안 돼요.
No seafood.
And specifically:
액젓 안 돼요.
No fish sauce.
멸치 안 돼요.
No anchovies.
새우젓 안 돼요.
No salted shrimp.
The repeated structure makes the restriction easier to communicate.
For strict dietary needs, it's better to be explicit than to assume everyone interprets "vegan" identically.
A Quick Korean Restaurant Script
Here's a realistic exchange you can practice before your trip.
You:
저는 비건이에요.
I'm vegan.
You:
고기, 생선, 해산물을 먹지 않아요.
I don't eat meat, fish, or seafood.
You:
액젓이나 멸치 육수도 먹지 않아요.
I also don't eat fish sauce or anchovy stock.
You:
이거 먹어도 돼요?
Can I eat this?
If you're asking about a soup:
육수가 뭐예요?
What is the broth?
If the server says it uses anchovy:
멸치 육수인가요?
Is it anchovy stock?
At that point, you have enough information to make an informed decision.
Vegan Korean Phrases Worth Memorizing
If you're studying Korean specifically for a trip, don't try to memorize dozens of complicated sentences.
Start with these:
- 비건이에요. — I'm vegan.
- 고기를 먹지 않아요. — I don't eat meat.
- 생선을 먹지 않아요. — I don't eat fish.
- 해산물을 먹지 않아요. — I don't eat seafood.
- 액젓이 들어가나요? — Does it contain fish sauce?
- 멸치 육수가 들어가나요? — Does it contain anchovy stock?
- 새우젓이 들어가나요? — Does it contain salted shrimp?
- 굴이 들어가나요? — Does it contain oysters?
- 육수가 뭐로 만들어졌어요? — What is the broth made from?
- 이거 먹어도 돼요? — Can I eat this?
These cover a surprisingly large portion of the questions you'll need when dining out.
Common Mistakes When Ordering Vegan Food in Korea
Mistake 1: Saying only "no meat"
This can leave fish, seafood, fish sauce, and anchovy stock outside the request.
Mistake 2: Assuming vegetable dishes are vegan
Vegetables don't tell you what was used for seasoning or broth.
Mistake 3: Forgetting about broth
Always investigate 육수 when ordering soup, noodles, stews, or other dishes with a liquid base.
Mistake 4: Assuming kimchi is vegan
Check for fish sauce and salted shrimp.
Mistake 5: Asking only whether something contains fish
Fish and seafood are not the only potential ingredients. Ask specifically about 액젓, 멸치, 새우젓, and 굴 when appropriate.
Mistake 6: Depending entirely on spoken Korean
A written Korean phrase card can eliminate a lot of uncertainty.
A One-Screen Vegan Korea Cheat Sheet
If you want the shortest possible version to save on your phone, use this:
저는 비건이에요.
I'm vegan.고기, 생선, 해산물을 먹지 않아요.
I don't eat meat, fish, or seafood.멸치, 멸치 육수, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴도 먹지 않아요.
I also don't eat anchovies, anchovy stock, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters.이 음식에 이런 재료가 들어가나요?
Does this food contain these ingredients?비건으로 먹을 수 있나요?
Can I eat this as a vegan?
Keep this available when you're ordering, especially if you expect to visit restaurants where English menus or English-speaking staff aren't guaranteed.
How to Prepare Before Your Korea Trip
Learning a few vegan Korean phrases before you arrive can make restaurant interactions much less stressful.
Practice recognizing the Korean words visually, not just their pronunciation. In particular, learn to identify:
비건 — vegan
액젓 — fish sauce
멸치 — anchovy
육수 — broth/stock
새우젓 — salted shrimp
굴 — oyster
해산물 — seafood
Take a screenshot of your phrase card.
If you're traveling with other people, make sure they know what your dietary restrictions mean, too. Having a companion who understands why you're asking about broth or fish sauce can make group meals easier.
And if you're looking for a small reminder of the values behind plant-based living while traveling, The Dharma Store offers vegan-themed apparel made with organic cotton and centered on mindfulness, compassion, and ethical living.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saying Vegan in Korean
How do you say "vegan" in Korean?
The Korean word for vegan is 비건 (bigeon). To say "I'm vegan," say 저는 비건이에요 (Jeoneun bigeon-ieyo).
How do you say "I don't eat meat" in Korean?
Say 고기를 먹지 않아요 (Gogireul meokji anayo), which means "I don't eat meat." For vegan dining, it's better to specify fish and seafood separately.
How do you ask if food contains fish sauce in Korean?
Say 액젓이 들어가나요? (Aekjeosi deureoganayo?), meaning "Does it contain fish sauce?"
How do you ask about anchovy stock in Korean?
Say 멸치 육수가 들어가나요? (Myeolchi yuksuga deureoganayo?), meaning "Does it contain anchovy stock?" This is particularly useful when ordering Korean soups and noodle dishes.
Is Korean kimchi always vegan?
No. Some kimchi contains fish sauce, salted shrimp, oysters, or other seafood ingredients. Ask whether the kimchi contains 액젓 (fish sauce) or 새우젓 (salted shrimp) before eating it.
What is the most important Korean phrase for vegan travelers?
Start with 저는 비건이에요, meaning "I'm vegan," then explain that you don't eat meat, fish, seafood, anchovies, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters. Asking about specific hidden ingredients is more useful than relying on the word "vegan" alone.
Your Essential Vegan Korean Phrase Card
If you remember nothing else, remember this:
저는 비건이에요.
I'm vegan.고기, 생선, 해산물을 먹지 않아요.
I don't eat meat, fish, or seafood.멸치, 멸치 육수, 액젓, 새우젓, 굴도 먹지 않아요.
I also don't eat anchovies, anchovy stock, fish sauce, salted shrimp, or oysters.이거 비건이에요?
Is this vegan?육수가 뭐로 만들어졌어요?
What is the broth made from?액젓이 들어가나요?
Does it contain fish sauce?멸치 육수가 들어가나요?
Does it contain anchovy stock?
Knowing how to say vegan in Korean is a great starting point, but the real advantage comes from knowing what to ask next.
When ordering vegan food in Korea, look beyond the obvious ingredients. Ask about the broth. Ask about fish sauce. Ask about anchovies. Ask about salted shrimp and oysters. Those small questions can make the difference between a dish that looks vegan and one that actually fits a plant-based diet.
The goal isn't to memorize perfect Korean. It's to communicate clearly enough that you and the restaurant staff understand exactly what is—and isn't—going into your food.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding dietary or health concerns.