Diffusion of innovation theories have been used to explain the adaptation process of Chinese college students to Korean food. This study examined and compared Korean food adaptation among Chinese college students in Gyeonggido and Daejeon. A total of 141 Chinese college students were surveyed from August 01 to November supported by the Chinese Students Association in Gyeonggido. The results show that the adaptation process of Chinese college students to Korean food was different between Gyeonggido and Daejeon. Chinese college students did not have many opportunities to learn about Korean food and search information about Korean food. The adaptation process of Chinese college students to Korean food was different by residential type and period. The adaptation process of Chinese college students in Gyeonggido to Korean food was composed of three factors: interest-reinvention-adoption, awareness, and evaluation-trial-adoption. Three factors of the adaptation process of Chinese college students in Daejeon to Korean food were awareness-evaluationtrial, adoption-reinvention-trial, and interest.

• 한경수(경기대학교 외식조리학과) | Kyung Soo Han (Department of Foodservice and Culinary Management, Kyonggi University, Korea) Corresponding author