More than once, Hakeem had to turn back from a school cafeteria because of what it was serving. Due to his Muslim background, he does not eat pork; but he had no way of knowing what was being served until actually visiting the cafeteria. Other students with dietary restrictions for reasons other than religion, such as vegetarians and vegans, experienced similar problems.

The international student population at SNU no longer has to worry about such situations.  SNUCO (SNU Cooperative), which runs most of SNU's cafeterias, recently started uploading weekly menus in English for foreign students. It is easily accessible on the SNUCO website or you can print it out and carry it around with you, lessening your distress over what to eat for lunch. If, for instance, ?rice topped with stir-fried pork, green bell pepper & sweet potato noodles is on the menu, you can read about the method and ingredients with which the food was cooked.

Currently in SNU, there are 7 cafeterias (Cafeterias No. 1, 2, 3, 5, the Dormitory Cafeteria, Dongwon Hall Cafeteria, and the Engineering & Research Center 2 Cafeteria) run directly by SNUCO. At these cafeterias, meal prices range from 1,700 KRW to 4,500 KRW. The SNUCO English menu service is currently being offered for Cafeterias 1, 2, 3, 5, the Dorm Cafeteria, and the Engineering & Research Center 2 Cafeteria. The English menu service is not yet available for the Dongwon Hall Cafeteria, as it just recently came under the management of SNUCO.

In addition to these SNUCO-run cafeterias, there are 3 more cafeterias on campus: Jahayeon Restaurant, the Engineering & Research Center 1 Cafeteria, and Cafeteria No. 4. These restaurants are now co-operated by SNUCO and other companies. Here, too, meals are served at reasonable costs: from 1,500 KRW to 4000 KRW. International students will now be able to make the most of their school lives here at SNU with these cafeterias at their service.

July 17, 2009
LEE Yeha and KIM Eunyoung, SNU English Editors