Since the beginning of the century, the world has increasingly begun to focus on finding solutions to environmental issues. Just this month, halfway around the world in Brazil, Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, was held while a couple hundred kilometers south of Seoul in the coastal city of Yeosu Expo 2012 with the motto ‘The Living Ocean and Coast’, is currently open to visitors. Increasing trends of environmentalism have affected all aspects of life, as industries produce eco-friendly green products, to which people have responded eagerly. At SNU, this trend is manifested in the culinary form.

Students and members of the Seoul National University (SNU) community frequently dine on campus at restaurants such as The Kitchen and Dos Tacos, along with the various cafeterias scattered around. However, few are aware of the existence of a vegetarian buffet located right in the heart of campus.

Located on the second floor of the cafeteria of the College of Fine Arts (Building I-74), the vegetarian buffet offers a variety of meat-free dishes such as traditional Korean lettuce leaves to wrap with two types of rice, white or with beans. The vegetarian buffet also offers a concoction of vegetarian dishes such as fried tofu cubes, and salads. While it is the only vegetarian restaurant on campus, it makes SNU one of only three universities with a vegetarian cafeteria in Korea. (Dongguk University and Sahmyook University are the other two).

Throughout Korea, whether due to health concerns or ethical principles, it appears that an increasing number of people are reverting back to the plant-based diet. Traditionally, Korean society was predominantly vegetarian, as cattle were used largely for field work. Now, especially among university students, vegetarianism is on the rise. Compared to Dongguk University and Sahmyook University, where vegetarian restaurants were established by faculty members and administrators, the SNU vegetarian buffet was the result of a student-led effort. Ssi-al, an SNU environmental club which also condemns animal abuse, began promoting the idea of establishing a vegetarian restaurant three years ago. In the beginning Ssi-al faced difficulties in finding supporters, as people were wary of the motives behind the movement, thinking Ssi-al was trying to reduce the opportunities for meat eaters. But after consistent effort, the vegetarian buffet was opened in 2009.

For vegetarian members of the university community, the vegetarian buffet is an immense relief to find on campus. LEE Pia, a freshman from the College of Human Ecology, expressed, “The vegetarian buffet on campus is a great place for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians to have lunch. The price is not very expensive, which makes it accessible for many students. It is a pity that there is only one place throughout the entire campus, though.” Students at SNU can enjoy the vegetarian buffet for the price of 5,000 KRW. A small price to pay for the positive health, environmental and ethical benefits it may bring.

Written by OH Jung Eun, SNU English Editor, josefinaoh@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com