This study surveyed the recognition, image, preference, attributes, satisfaction and revisit intention for Korean food of local Vietnamese to facilitate the globalization of Korean food. Most participants had recognized Korean food. and, they were especially aware of kimchi (김치), bulgogi (불고기) and bibimbab (비빔밥), Additionally, most repondents thought these foods represent Korean traditions and culture very well. The image of local Vietnamese for Korean food was good. Which was reflected in Korean food having “a good reputation” and a high possibility for “globalization” were high. This study also investigated 16 kinds of Korean food and found the highest preferences to be for bulgogi (불고기), followed by galbitang (갈비탕), whereas that for doenjangchigae (된장찌개) was lowest. Some of the top choice attributes of Vietnamese for Korean food were found to be in “because it is ‘colorful’, ‘prepared sincerely’, ‘plated neatly’, ‘fresh’ and ‘comes with a variety of banchans (side dishes). This is a very meaningful result, making this an important reference for the globalization of Korean food. The local Vietnamese had high satisfaction and reuse intention degree for Korean food, and especially high satisfaction with the colorfulness of Korean food. In addition, the local Vietnamese showed a very high revisit intention for Korean food.

Purpose: This study investigated the dietary patterns associated with Korean food and the level of proper eating habits according to recognition of the Kimchi cooking method, and aimed to suggest the necessity of dietary education of traditional foods such as Kimchi. Methods: Based on the results of the national dietary survey conducted in 2014 by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea, a total of 1200 subjects were classified into two groups, one that knew how to make Kimchi (53.8%) and another that did not (46.2%). Results: The group that knew how to make Kimchi (FG) showed significantly higher scores in knowledge of how to cook most types of Korean foods and traditional fermented foods than the other group (NG). Moreover, FG showed significantly higher scores in regularity in meals and a higher frequency of Korean foods such as rice, Kimchi, and grilled or stewed food, while it showed significantly lower scores in dietary risk factors than NG. In addition, FG showed significantly higher scores in dietary education interest and number of meals with family during the week than NG. Finally, FG had significantly higher scores in the degrees of practice of all eight items related to proper eating habits. Conclusion: Since recognition of Kimchi cooking has a great influence on maintenance of dietary life, dietary education to improve the cooking ability of traditional foods should be further strengthened.

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for development of a recipe for muslim-friendly halal Korean foods through investigation of awareness of Korean foods, taste evaluation, and menu preferences. After Korean foods’ menu range and standard were set up for the survey and in-depth interviews with three halal food experts were conducted, 35 kinds of halal Korean foods were examined. The present study conducted a survey on 205 foreign Muslims living in Jeonjusi, Jeonbuk and Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi who ate Korean foods. Foreign Muslims were male workers in their 20’s residing in company housing, and their monthly mean income was 1.01~2 million KRW. The majority of subjects responded that meal problems were the most difficult in everyday life. Concerning the taste of Korean foods, the response rate of ‘sweet’ and ‘spicy’ was high while ‘Korean food is healthy’ and ‘Korean food ingredients is fresh’ were high for awareness of Korean foods. ‘Bulgogi’ was the most preferred among the selected Korean foods, which was in line with the results of previous research. There is a need to provide information on Korean foods that can be made with food ingredients certified as halal and their recipes through various media for foreign Muslims who have limitations on in meals due to religious factors.

In this study, we conducted an empirical analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) by distributing questionnaires to 208 Chinese tourists who constitute the largest proportion of foreign tourists visiting South Korea. The survey was conducted in a face to face (FTF) manner with the aim to contribute to globalization of Korean cuisine through comprehensive analysis of the effects of preference characteristics of Korean wave dramas on the relationship among images, attitudes, and purchase intentions for Korean cuisine. The main actor characteristics among the preference characteristics of Korean wave dramas had a significant effect on the attitudes and purchase intentions for Korean cuisine. However, the thematic characteristics among the preference characteristics of Korean wave dramas did not have a significant effect on the purchase intentions for Korean cuisine; in addition, the production characteristics did not have a significant effect on the attitudes and purchase intentions for Korean cuisine. The eco-friendly and health images of Korean cuisine had a significant effect on the purchase intentions for Korean cuisine, and the attitudes toward Korean cuisine significantly affected the purchase intentions for Korean cuisine. Based on the results of this study, it is considered necessary to continuously publicize Korean cuisine through Korean wave dramas to build positive attitudes toward Korean cuisine through enhanced images of Korean cuisine.

This study aimed to investigate potential acceptability of Korean jang products among Halal food consumer’s to predict its market possibility in a Halal food market. Focus Group Interview (FGI) was implemented to 11 Halal food consumers residing in Korea for more than 4 month. During the test, 3 types of fermented paste, doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were evaluated by applying these to Korean foods. In depth interview was conducted on the liking of the jang applied samples, general experiences of Korean food and fermented food in their home countries. The results showed that consumers were positive to Korean jang applied samples in general. The mean liking ratings of doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were 7.1, 7 and 7.6 on 9-point hedonic scale, respectively. Consumers focused on the sweet and spicy flavor quality of the samples. Consumers commonly responded that the doenjang tasted too salty and needed to increase sweet and spicy flavor, and ssamjang needed to increase spicy flavor as well. Sweetening was necessary for gochujang. The reasons of liking Korean jang were because the flavors were unique yet familiar. The balanced flavor of salty, sweet and spicy flavor were additional reasons of liking. However, the fermented smell of jang products were reasons of disliking the products.

This study aimed to investigate the perception and preferences related to Korean food according to the ethnicity of university students in Yanbian, China. Korean food was preferred by Korean-Chinese as compared with Chinese students, and Korean-Chinese students preferred Korean food more than Chinese food. Both Korean-Chinese and Chinese preferred Korean food more than traditional Chosun food. More Korean-Chinese than Chinese students had positive perceptions of Korean food, which included foods made with jang, kimchi smell, and healthiness due to diversity. For evaluation of Korean food taste, more Chinese than Korean-Chinese subjects thought Korean food is not greasy and hoped salty taste. Both awareness and preferences related to Korean food were significantly higher in Korean-Chinese than Chinese students. Meat foods (so-galbi, dak-galbi, jang-jorim) were relatively high in terms of preference in both Korean-Chinese and Chinese students. Moreover, Chinese students preferred Korean traditional foods (sujeonggwa, yakgwa, gangjeong). In Korean- Chinese students, Korean representative traditional foods (kimchi, jangajji) and Korean traditional holiday foods (tteokguk, mandu-guk) were relatively low in terms of preference. This study found that the traditional food culture of Korean-Chinese has been maintained in Yanbian, whereas there is a change in the young generation.

This study aimed to investigate the perception and preferences related to Korean food of university students in Yanbian, China. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 306 (124 males and 182 females) students. The preferences for Chinese food (44.7%) and a combination of Korean (32.0%) and Chosun food (12.4%) were similar, and Korean food was more preferred than traditional Chosun food. The main reason for preferences for Korean food was taste. The perception of Korean hot spices and kimchi smell was not good, whereas positive perceptions where held for foods made with jang, new Korean food experience and healthiness of Korean food. Awareness of Korean food was in the order of bibimbap, kimchibokkeum- bap, gimbap, baechi-kimchi and ttoe-bbokki. Preference order was bulgogi, so-galbi, jang-jorim, dak-galbi and dewaeji-galbil. Meat foods and Korean traditional foods were relatively high, whereas kimchi, ttoe-bbokki and bibimbap were relatively low in terms of preference. More female than male students preferred Korean food, and the perception of new food experience and healthiness of Korean food were positive. Moreover, both awareness and preference related to Korean food were significantly higher in female than male students. These results can be used as a foundation to prepare a localization strategy of Korean food to China.

Despite growing interest in Korean foods, South-east Asian consumers’ perception and acceptance of Korean foods have not been well elucidated. This study was conducted to understand South-east Asian Muslim consumers’ perception and acceptance of Korean foods and the association with their food neophobia level. Ninety-three Muslim consumers (mean ages 25.2, men 35.5%, women 64.5%) from Malaysia (72%), Indonesia (16.1%), and Singapore (11.9%) rated their degree of food neophobia as well as recognition and acceptance of representative Korean menu items. Background data such as duration of stay and Korean food consumption habits were collected. Overall, participants perceived Korean foods positively (4.04 on a 5-point hedonic scale). Most well-recognized Korean foods were gimbap and bulgogi, whereas less-known spicy foods such as ojingoe deopbap were most liked among items that were actually consumed. A neophobic group rated Korean foods less favorably than neutral and neophilic groups (p<0.05). Future studies are required to identify whether or not South-east Asian Muslim consumers’ food neophobia is formed under the influence of religious regulations or reflect individual consumers’ personal traits.

To enrich a country’s food culture, it is essential that residents understand and care about that culture. Although various efforts to globalize Korean food have been made outside Korea, the importance of understanding Koreans’ perception of and increasing interest in Korean food has been neglected. Thus, this study was conducted to identify the cognitive structures regarding Korean food among 30 Koreans living in metropolitan cities using in-depth laddering interviews based on the means-end chain theory. The most dominant cognitive structures toward Korean food were familiarity (attributes), ease of digestion and health (functional consequences), sense of responsibility and will to live (psychosocial consequences), and family affection and sense of achievement (values). In short, Koreans were found to consume Korean food to achieve perceived high-dimensional values rather than simply for its attributes or benefits. These findings have important implications for future strategies and policies aimed at increasing Korean food consumption by Koreans, as they suggest that underlying and symbolic values rather than the attributes of Korean food are more effective in promoting its consumption. Further studies on understanding perceptions and values using a larger Korean population are needed to preserve and further develop Korean food.

The purpose of this study was to survey the perception and preference for Korean food among Chinese students residing in Korea (Chinese foreign students, N=69) and China (Chinese-locals, N=98). A total of 76.8% of Chinese foreign students and 70.4% of Chinese-locals had ever eaten Korean food in China before visiting Korea, and motivation to try Korean food at first was ‘easy access to Korean food restaurants’ (Chinese foreign students 38.6%, Chinese-locals 44.9%). The most important factors in selecting Korean food were ‘taste’ and ‘price’ (Chinese foreign students 72.7% and 18.2%, Chineselocals 59.1% and 22.7%, respectively), and needed improvements for Korean food were ‘spicy and salty taste’ and ‘nutritional aspect’ (Chinese foreign students 54.5% and 25.8%, Chinese-locals 33.3% and 36.4%, p<0.05). The scores for perception of Korean food were significantly lower in Chinese-locals (2.99) than in Chinese foreign students (3.31)(p<0.001). Chinese foreign students preferred Bulgogi (20.5%), Neobiani (20.1%), and Galbijjim (17.9%), whereas Chinese-locals preferred Bulgogi (16.1%), Gimbap (16.1%), and Samgyetang (15.2%) (p<0.001). The most preferred condiment was ‘Garlic’ (18.0%) in Chinese foreign students, and ‘Red pepper powder’ (16.4%) in Chinese-locals. The results of the study can be used as a foundation to prepare a globalization strategy for Korean Food.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and preferences relating to Korean fast food among students of the College of Hotel management in Germany and utilize the analyzed data as baseline data for globalization of Korean food. A total of 74 students with food-related majors were asked to complete a survey after cooking and tasting seven different kinds of Korean dishes themselves. Exactly 97.3% of students reported that even though they never tried Korean food before, that Korean food is uncomplicated and interesting to cook, very healthy with abundant vegetables and rice, and suits their palate. Regarding the seven dishes of Korean food, the students stated that Gimbab (김밥) is most suitable for fast food and sorted Japchebab (잡채밥), Gunmandu (군만두), Bulgogidubbab (불고기덮밥), Makjeok (맥적), Bibibguksu (비 빔국수), and Musaengche (무생채), in descending order, regarding globalization of Korean food. Gimbab (김밥) and Gunmandu (군만두) both received the highest scores for being the most preferred Korean food. As students indicated Korean food as a dish they would like to cook again, recommend to friends and familyies, and buy if sold in Germany, this survey suggests that Korean food can be a competitive fast food in Germany.

The purpose of this article was to research the difference in additional marketing satisfaction by lifestyle of Korean restaurant customers (focus on foreign students at university in Gangwon province). In this research, factor analysis, cluster analysis, and ANOVA were carried out. Lifestyle was divided into seven factors and six clusters. Additional marketing satisfaction was divided into three factors. Additional marketing satisfaction showed a significant difference by lifestyle of foreign students. First, ‘employee’ had a highest point at C3 ‘convenience·internet searching pursuit’ but lowest point at C4 ‘brand preference pursuit’ (p<0.001). ‘Service process’ had a highest point at C1 ‘safety·health pursuit’ but lowest point at C5 ‘effort pursuit’ (p<0.001). ‘Tangible clue’ had a highest point at C3 ‘convenience·internet searching pursuit’ but lowest point at C5 ‘effort pursuit’ (p<0.001). Additional marketing can reduce customer uncertainty, ambiguities, and wavering about eating at restaurants by intangibility of service. As a result, food-service corporations need to manage additional marketing as well as increase satisfaction and loyalty of customers.