As of 2021, there were around 2.5 million people in South Korea following a vegan diet. The number of vegans has increased tenfold from 2008 to 2018, and has shown a growth of around 67 percent in the three years after that.
South Korea is arguably one of the most difficult countries in the world to sustain yourself in as a vegan. There's no doubt the country has a fondness for meat and seafood, with anchovy broth being a prominent ingredient in many of the national dishes.
India is thought to have the most vegetarians globally, with up to 42% of the population avoiding meat products.
Meat and fish are a huge part of Korean food culture and it's a reason why such a small number of Koreans are vegetarian. No matter where you are, the smell of endless BBQ, meat and fish restaurants fills every town and city. But being vegetarian in South Korea is actually doable, so don't worry!
Seoul is a carnivore's dream destination but, while fish markets and Korean BBQ fill every street in the city, there are a number of vegetarian (and even vegan) options for hungry travellers.
Vegan K-pop and K-drama stars: 4 Korean celebrities who follow a plant-based diet (well, mostly) – Lee Hyori, Im Soo-jung, Claudia Kim and Lee Ha-nui.
Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, vegetables, seafood and (at least in South Korea) meats. Dairy is largely absent from the traditional Korean diet. Traditional Korean meals are named for the number of side dishes (반찬; 飯饌; banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice.
Australia is home to as many as 2.5 million vegans and vegetarians. 6% of the population is vegan. In the last decade, those following plant-based diets have increased by about 50% The east of Australia has the most number of vegans.
China. This is one of those countries where you will find animal products in almost every dish. They commonly use lard in almost every dish and even chips are not safe for vegetarians. You have to be very alert if you are a pure vegetarian because waiters in most of the restaurants consider seafood as a vegetarian dish ...
South Korea has a very high percentage of meat eaters. My Korean tutor says he has never met anyone vegetarian — ever. South Korean meat dishes from bulgogi to barbeque are delicious but even vegetable based dishes like kimchi contain fish or are cooked in a meat broth, rendering them inedible to vegetarians.
Based on early data from the National Nutrition Survey and other studies we estimate that about 2% of Australians are vegan. This is approximately 500,000 people.
Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine
The cuisine of Eritrea and Ethiopia is full of naturally plant-based dishes. This is largely due to the fasting tradition in the Orthodox Christian religion. Orthodox Christians abstain from all animal products for around 200 days each year, but plant-based foods are still permitted.
Black Americans are almost three times as likely to be vegan and vegetarian than other Americans. Why is giving up meat so popular?
A traditional Korean side dish, kimchi consists mainly of fermented cabbage, radish and other vegetables. But it's normally made using fish sauce, fish paste or other seafood. That takes it off the menu for vegans, who don't eat any products derived from animals.
There is a common misconception that it is impossible to eat vegan in China. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The long history of Buddhism in the country means there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan Buddhist restaurant options, particularly in major cities.
Japanese cuisine is known for its heavy use of meat and fish, and even stocks and sauces usually have some ingredients containing meat. Vegetarianism and veganism are not as popular in Japan as it is in the West, so you'll find there's often some confusion as to what you can and can't eat.
2021 ranked America second in the world, with 5% of its population choosing to be vegetarian.
1. Israel. Israel is considered one of the best sustainable countries in the world. The mix of the traditional Mediterranean diet and the strict dietary laws of Kosher food has made them get away from meat, dairy, and parve products.
Thailand is a great country for buying fresh fruits, vegetables, noodles and rice dishes that will be perfect for a travelling vegetarian. Tip: Even though there are lots of dishes that are already plant-based, watch out for them being prepared in fish sauce or chicken broth.
The Sunshine Coast is one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in the world. It has some of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world and is also home to Australia's first vegan grocery store. Vegetarianism is rising, and the Sunshine Coast is one of the best places to be a vegetarian or vegan.
HappyCow reports that Melbourne is Australia's culinary capital, with 130 fully vegan establishments listed on HappyCow out of a total of 1000 listings, including non-vegan restaurants that cater to vegans.
In 2019 a nationally representative survey of Australians found that 35 percent of respondents were vegetarian or vegan for animal welfare reasons. The second most popular response was for health reasons.
Generally, dairy consumption is much lower in Asians, especially in Koreans because dairy foods are not a part of the traditional Korean diet and 75 % of Koreans have lactose intolerance ( 5 , Reference Scrimshaw and Murray 11 ).
According to a survey among South Korean milk drinkers on their reasons for consuming milk, around 45.3 percent of respondents answered that they consumed milk as a snack to appease their hunger. According to the same source, especially respondents aged 14 to 39 gave this as a reason.
But the biggest reason Asian cultures don't regularly incorporate cheese into their cooking is probably because so many East Asians are lactose intolerant. In fact, they're drastically more likely to be lactose intolerant than Westerners.