Fast-food chains embrace vegetarian offerings in South Korea

The country’s vegan population jumped tenfold from 2008 to 2018.

As the vegan market begins to grow in South Korea, the country’s fast-food chains are jumping into what used to be considered a niche market, Korea Bizwire reported.

Burger King has rolled out Plant-Based Whoppers, featuring plant-based patties cooked 100% straight from the barbeque. The vegetarian burger patties, developed jointly with an Australian alternative meat producer, are made primarily of soy protein.

Meanwhile, fast-food franchise Lotteria also introduced the plant-based Sweet Earth Awesome Burger in November 2020. The 2021 Michelin Guide for Seoul’s Bib Gourmand also introduced Base is Nice, the first vegetarian restaurant in the country ever to make it to the list.

The Korea Vegetarian Union reported that the country’s vegetarian population jumped from 150,000 in 2008 to a whopping 1.5 million in 2018.

“More people are gaining interest in vegetarian food after a meat-based diet has been blamed for the coronavirus outbreak,” said Korean Vegetarian Union’s head Lee Won-bok.