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| The number of people who follow a plant-based diet in Korea was estimated to be 2.5 million as of last year, a whopping increase compared to 150,000 in 2008, according to the Korea Vegetarian & Vegan Association. gettyimagesbank |
By Park Han-sol
The global trend of seeking an environmentally responsible and sustainable diet has led to the rising demand for vegan and vegetarian food products here in Korea.
The number of people who follow a plant-based diet in the country was estimated to be as many as 2.5 million as of last year, a remarkable jump compared to only 150,000 in 2008, according to the Korea Vegetarian & Vegan Association. Nearly one-fifth of them are presumed to be vegan.
While the major players of the domestic plant-based market used to be small startups and medium-sized enterprises specializing in food tech, more and more established brands have begun to get in on the action as well, filling the grocery store aisles with meat alternatives, as well as their previously popular products reborn as vegan-certified dishes.
According to the latest report of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), a total of 286 food products have been newly certified as vegan by the Korea Agency of Vegan Certification and Services last year ― a 44-percent increase from 2020 and a 151-percent increase from 2019.
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| Bibigo PlanTable Mandu, a vegan dumpling product / Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang |
The product is currently being exported to 10 countries outside of Korea, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. Notably, buyers from several Muslim countries, where pork consumption is forbidden, have been eyeing importing these dumplings, the company added.
Its popularity has also been witnessed domestically, with more than 280,000 packs sold within the first two months of its launch.
This month, MP Group, the brand operating the pizza restaurant franchise, Mr. Pizza, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with food tech company Yangyoo, which has recently filed a patent application for its key technology behind vegan cheese making. Based on the MOU, the two firms are seeking to develop a new product line of vegan pizza.
Meat alternatives have also emerged as a popular market for the big corporate players to explore.
The local market for plant-based meat grew from $14.1 million in 2016 to $17.4 million in 2020, aT stated. It is forecast to grow further, to $22.6 million by 2025.
Last year, Shinsegae Food rolled out its first meat alternative product of cold cut ham as part of its new brand, Better meat. The "meatless meat" has been used in sandwiches sold at Starbucks. Sausage and bulgogi are planned for the brand's future lineup.
Food and beverage giant Nongshim launched a vegan food brand, Veggie Garden, with products that can substitute for grilled short rib patties, marinated grilled beef slices and stir-fried meatballs. Its new vegan restaurant named, "Forest Kitchen," is scheduled to open next month at the Lotte World Tower and Mall in southern Seoul, to offer plant-based alternatives to common meat-containing dishes such as burgers, steak and pasta.
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