An ecological study of food and nutrition was conducted among 198 children, 6 to 12 years old, of the Songmyun elementary school and Samsong elementary school, located in remote villages of Chungchun-myun, Goisan-gun, Chung Buk Province between July 11 and 16, 1988. The results were summarized as follows. In regard to frequency of skipping breakfast, 3.3% of subjects skipped every morning; 15% often skipped; and the others never skipped. The most common reason for skipping a meal was lack of appetite. 6.6% of subjects often skipped an evening meal because of delayed meal preparation by a mother who returned home late. The survey found that 5.1% of subjects skipped a lunch at school. The reasons for skipping lunch were the mother’s being too busy to prepare a boxed lunch; a school bag too heavy to carry for a long distance to school; no adequate side-dishes for the boxed lunch. Growth patterns of those children having poor food habits, were reflected in lower figures in arm circumference and weight for height. The percentage of children having meals with their family on weekdays was 84.7% for breakfast; 85.6% for evening meal. About 7% of subjects had many dislikes and 74.1% had some dislikes in what they ate; 18.9% had good food preferences. There was a strong correlation between appetite or food preferences and anthropometric measurements or nutrient intake. Boiled rice was the predominant dietary staple, and principal sources of protein taken by subjects at home were soy beans and soy products. Regarding the boxed lunch prepared at home, most popular was one with only one kind of side-dish, including kimchee. 43.4% of the side-dishes were prepared with vegetables only. As for between meal snacks, milk and milk products, fruits and breads were popular among the subjects. The survey found that the children liked fruits, yogurt, corn, Chajang noodle; in contrast, lowest preference was for soup made with bones, curried meat with rice, and aromatic vegetables. The survey discovered a local dietary characteristics; 46.2% of the children customarily ate frog meat, an unconventional food.

A secondary survey was conducted of 503 customers, to investigate eating out behaviours at five fast food restaurants of Youido apartment compound in Seoul, in April of 1988. The results are summarized as follows: The majority, 84% of customers, were aged 14 to 30, consisting of junior and senior high school children, college students and company employees. In contrast to the previous survey of 1986, in which no elderly customers were found, a small number of elderly customers were observed in this study. The reasons given by customers for patronizing fast food restaurants were the following, from most to least frequent: 'convenient', 'allows for companionship', 'the pleasant place to eat', 'dining equipment and tableware are hygienic', 'to be able to stay as long as I want', and 'foods rapidly served'. Only 24.2% of the customers purchased the fast foods for a full meal, 38.3% purchased the foods for snacking, and others purchased ice cream only or drink only. The majority of the customers ate the purchased foods at the fast food restaurants. However, a limited number of female customers preferred to take the packed fast foods to their homes. Taste preference was a major factor in food selection from available menu items, among the younger customers; whereas customers over 30 years old were concerned with nutritive balance. Fried chicken, pizza, rolled rice with laver, ice cream, and juice were high on the list of liked foods; in contrast, lower preference was for fish burger, doughnut, spaghetti, Chajang noodles and chili beans. The survey discovered that the preference for fried chicken, pizza, and salad had increased compared to the previous survey of 1986. Preference by food nationality was highest for Korean food, then Western food, Chinese food, and Japanese food, in that order. Customers offered suggestions for better fast food service, such as lowering the price; greater variety in the menu; developing fast foods from the traditional Korean foods; and increasing the proportion of vegetables and fruits on the fast food menu. The customers, in particular, emphasized a need for the development of Korean traditional beverage of malt drink and persimmon punch, as well as mungbean pan cakes and sweet- spicy rice noodles (docbokki), as fast foods.