Korean Allergy Card Generator: Free Food Allergy & Diet Card in Korean

Food allergies and special diets are hard to explain in Korea. Most menus are only in Korean, many dishes use hidden ingredients like anchovy broth, sesame oil or soy sauce, and servers are busy. This free tool makes a Korean allergy and diet card you can show to restaurant staff. Tick your boxes, then save it as an image on your phone.

How to use: Tick your allergies and diet below. Your Korean card appears under the checklist. Tap the red “Save as image” button under the card, then show the saved image to staff before you order. The card is written by a Korean in polite, natural Korean that servers understand instantly.

Also handy: our free Korean phrase cards for ordering, asking for less spice and paying.

Hidden ingredients in Korean food

Even dishes that look simple often contain these. Your card covers them, but it helps to know:

• Anchovy broth (멸치 육수) and fish sauce (액젓): in most stews, soups and kimchi. Bad news for vegetarians and fish allergies.
• Soy and wheat: soy sauce, doenjang and gochujang all contain soy, and most contain wheat.
• Sesame oil (참기름): drizzled on bibimbap, namul and gimbap.
• Shrimp: salted shrimp (새우젓) is in most kimchi.
• Pork: used in many dumplings, stews and even some "vegetable" dishes.
• Buckwheat (메밀): in naengmyeon cold noodles and makguksu.

Tips for eating safely in Korea

• Show the card before you order, not when the food arrives.
• Chain restaurants and convenience stores print allergen labels on packaging. Look for the box labelled 알레르기 유발물질 (al-le-reu-gi yu-bal-mul-jil), which means “allergens”.
• In an emergency, call 119 for an ambulance. Say "al-le-reu-gi" (알레르기), the Korean word for allergy, and show your card.
• Diet-friendly guides: vegan restaurants in Seoul · halal restaurants in Seoul · Hindu and vegetarian food in Seoul.

This card helps you communicate, but it cannot guarantee a dish is safe. If your allergy is severe, always carry your own medication and double-check with staff.