Turning a Minus into a Big Future Plus: The Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan

By Chung Hyun-hwa

Worldwide, more people are converting in veganism for mostly three reasons: health, love for animals, and an effort to fight against the climate crisis. Here, I would like to introduce a group of young pro-vegans who are discovering vegan-friendly restaurants in Gwangju, investing their own funds to find “other” options in their spare time: They are the Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan (광주비건탐식단) or Gwangju Vegan Explorers.

The Motive

The harsh truth is that Gwangju is not the easiest city for vegans or pro-vegans. The Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan decided to group together to find vegan-friendly restaurants for themselves. Their idea was not to convince restaurants to create additional new vegan menus but to convince them to serve vegans by excluding animal ingredients. It was certainly not about money but rather the intention to reach out because it would cost nothing.

The Actions

Most restaurants in Gwangju serve dishes containing animal-based ingredients such as animal-based stock, oyster sauce, fish sauce, fish soy sauce, and honey, in addition to meat, eggs, shells, and dairy. The Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan explains and asks restaurant owners nicely if it is possible to exclude these animal ingredients from some of the menu items, and some kindly agree. This information about vegan-possible restaurants was shared on their Instagram page (@vegantamsikdan) with its 500 followers and their personal SNS pages.

They have created maps for these restaurants on the KakaoMap and Notion apps. Not only that, the members also chipped in some money to make vegan stickers to attach to the restaurant menus, with the owners’ approval. This was done for everyone who wishes to practice “one plant-based-meal-a-day,” whatever their reasons are, be they related to health and allergies, animal rights, and/or climate and environmental issues. Their efforts are slowly changing restaurants to recognize this demand for vegan options and providing these options so that vegans can eat out with their not-yet-vegan friends without having to bring along packed food from home.

Veganism in Korea
Korea is known to have about 2,500,000 vegans as of 2020. The number has gone up greatly compared to 150,000 in 2008. Besides these people, more people are choosing plant-based dishes at least one meal a day. (Meat-based food culture is so dominant in Korea at the moment that it is quite difficult to become strict vegans. Thus, most people who are pursuing veganism would like to refer to themselves as “pro-vegans.”)

Some say this is just a trend. However, more enterprises producing cosmetics, clothing, and food that used to manufacture products containing animal-based ingredients are jumping into the vegan product market, responding to the increase in such demand. More media are releasing articles about vegan culture as well. Just a year ago, most of the searched articles about veganism were from personal blogs, but now there are pages of search results on Naver under the same keyword by businesses, newspapers, broadcasters, and organizations. The major broadcasters and newspapers carry contents related to veganism, viewing it as a good-will action. Now veganism is not just a subculture of some minority group, but is related to “value-conscious consumption,” especially in the times of carbon neutrality. There may be some businesses that are using veganism to “greenwash” their activities, but even this may be considered as evidence that veganism is on the rise.

(Note: These restaurants are not only for vegans, so cross-contamination may occur.)

The Restaurants
Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan has discovered 50 vegan-friendly restaurants in all of Gwangju to share on their official Instagram page since April 10, 2021. From November 2021, they are now monitoring these 50 places, and the 16 listed below have been confirmed as following vegan-friendly guidelines.

Goals
Their goal in 2022 to contribute to vegan culture expansion is discovering 100 vegan-friendly places for food and drinks, including the 50 places they have already found. They are planning to have a “challenge” with other citizens to speed up the process, and then have a ceremonial event when the goal is accomplished. These activities will all be uploaded on their Instagram, so further attention will be appreciated. Though a humble beginning, I applaud their efforts.

List of Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Gwangju
Vegan-friendly places are marked on Google Maps and Notion. This will be on Kakao Map in March, too, and the link will be shared on their Instagram.

Alkong Dalkong 알콩달콩
Address: 광주 북구 설죽로 217번길 8
Open Hours: 11:30–21:30 (Closed Sundays)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 청국장 (cheonggukjang – originally vegan), 순두부찌개 (sundubu jjigae – exclude dadaegi sauce, meat broth, and egg)

Memil Jeongwon 메밀정원 (Buckwheat Garden)
Address: 광주 북구 일곡마을로 173-1
Open Hours: 10:00–21:00 (Closed 2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 서리태콩물 (seoritae kongmul – originally vegan), 짜장모밀 (jjajang momil – originally vegan), 비빔모밀 (bibimmomil – animal origin stock)

Jungkukseong 중국성
Address: 광주 서구 상일로 54번길 9-10
Open Hours: 10:00–20:30
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 간짜장 (ganjjajang – ask for only veggies), 마파두부밥 (mapadububap – exclude meat and oyster sauce)

Dawon Myeongka 다원명가
Address: 광주 서구 시청서편로 4번길 19-12
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 된장찌개 (dwenjang jjigae)
Note: Always mention that you are vegan. Confirm the use of fish sauce in the side dishes. VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Dareuda Kimbap, Jumeokbap Sangmu Branch 다르다김밥주먹밥 상무직영점
Address: 광주 서구 치평로 86
Open Hours: 9:00–22:00 (Last order 21:20)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 다르다김밥 (dareuda kimbap – exclude egg and fishcake), 새싹야채김밥 (saessak yache kimbap – exclude egg and mayonnaise), 감태김밥 (gamtae kimbap – exclude egg and mayonnaise),생야채비빔쫄면 (saengyache bibimjjolmyeon)

Mahyang Bibim Guksu 망향비빔국수 광주서구점
Address: 광주 서구 상무연하로 112 제갈량빌당 A동 1층 101호
Open Hours: 11:00–17:00 (Sat. until 21:00)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 비빔국수 (bibimguksu – exclude kimchi topping)

Daejeop 대접
Address: 광주 동구 서석로 85번길 8-7
Open Hours: 11:30–21:00 (Closed Sundays)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 라면 (ramyeon), 떡라면 (ddeok ramyeon), 돌솥비빔밥 (dolsot bibimbap), 대접비빔밥 (daejeop bibimbap), 비빔국수 (bibimkuksu), 냉국수 (naengkuksu), 냉비빔국수 (naeng bibimkuksu),콩나물국밥 (kongnamul gukbap), 애호박찌개 (aehobakjjigae)
Note: VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Alain 알랭
Address: 광주 동구 동명로20번길 17-6
Open Hours: 12:00–22:00
(Break time: 15:00–17:00 / Closed Tuesdays)
Note: Vegan course (Reserve three days in advance)

Cafe Barie 카페바리에
Address: 광주 동구 서석로7번길 14
Open Hours: 11:30–21:30
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 알리오올리오 (alio olio, vegan option), 지구파스타 (jigu pasta), 감자샐러드 (potato salad)

Owol Babjip 오월밥집
Address: 광주 동구 예술길 15번길 10-1 1층
Open Hours: 11:00–22:00 (Break time: 14:00–17:00 / Weekends off)
Note: Vegan marks on the menu

Landori 란도리
Address: 광주 동구 동명로 45-1
Open Hours: 11:30–21:30
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 란도리텐동 (landori tendong – exclude fried shrimp, eggs, jangkuk soup, and kimchi. Replace sauce with soy sauce.), 바질토마토 (basil tomatoes)

Simmani Chinguga Daoneun Mudeungsan Mushrooms
심마니친구가 따오는 무등산버섯
Address: 광주 동구 증심사길 30번길 21
Open Hours: 11:00–20:00 (Closed Sundays)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 버섯전골 (beoseot jeongol – exclude meat. Ddeok and sukju namul at the self-service bar are plant-based.)
Note: VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Taehwa Banjeom 태화반점
Address: 광주 광산구 광산로 6-4
Open Hours: 10:40–20:30
(Break time 15:30–17:00; Closed Thursdays)
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 간짜장 (ganjjajang), 고추짜짱 (gochu jajang), 중화비빔밥 (junghwa bibimbap), 버섯잡채밥 (beoseot japchaebap), 양장피 (yangjangpi), 고추잡채 (gochu japchae)
Note: VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Seoul Jangsu Guksu 서울장수국수
Address: 광주 광산구 송정로8번길 41
Open Hours: 11:00–21:00 (Closed 2nd & 4th Mondays)

Vegan Possible Menu Options: 얼큰비빔국수 (eolkeun bibimguksu – exclude egg) 달콤콩물국수 (dalkom kongmul guksu – exclude egg), 잔치국수 (janchi guksu – call for veggie broth two hours in advance), 설탕국수 (seoltang guksu), 야채전 (yachaejeon)
Note: VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Sinseonjip 신선집
Address: 광주 광산구 광산로 30번길 7-1
Open Hours: 11:00–15:00 (Reserve a day before)

Vegan Possible Menu Options: 백반 (baekban, rice with side dishes – vegan on request)

Yeokjeon Pizza 역전핏자
Address: 광주 광산구 송정로 8번길 23
Open Hours: 11:00–22:00
Vegan Possible Menu Options: 알리오올리오 (alio olio), 토마토스파게티 (tomato spaghetti), 프렌치프라이 (french fries)
Note: VeTam stickers are attached to vegan-possible dishes.

Carbone Seonun Branch 까르보네 선운점
Address: 광주 광산구 선운로 16 금호빌 1층
Open Hours: 11:00–21:00 (Last order 20:00)

Vegan Possible Menu Options: 토마토소스 스파게티 (tomato sauce spaghetti), 아마트리치아나 스파게티 (amatriciana spaghetti – exclude bacon), 알리오올리오 (alio olio), 그린샐러드 (green salad), 샐러드파스타 (salad pasta – exclude cheese), 치아바타 (ciabatta)

This article was written based on a written interview with Gwangju Vegan Tamsikdan, and the images are from the official Instagram page and the Notion map with permission.

The Author

Chung Hyun-hwa is from Gwangju and is currently leading Gwangju Hikers, an international eco-hike group at the GIC, and getting ready to teach the Korean language. Previously, she taught English in different settings, including Yantai American School and Yantai Korean School in China, and has worked for the Jeju school administration at Branksome Hall Asia in recent years. She holds a master’s degree in TESOL from TCNJ in the U.S.

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