This study investigates the negative perceptions (veganphobia) held by consumers toward vegan diets and fashion and aims to foster a genuine acceptance of ethical veganism in consumption. The textual data web-crawled Korean online posts, including news articles, blogs, forums, and tweets, containing keywords such as “contradiction,” “dilemma,” “conflict,” “issues,” “vegan food” and “vegan fashion” from 2013 to 2021. Data analysis was conducted through text mining, network analysis, and clustering analysis using Python and NodeXL programs. The analysis revealed distinct negative perceptions regarding vegan food. Key issues included the perception of hypocrisy among vegetarians, associations with specific political leanings, conflicts between environmental and animal rights, and contradictions between views on companion animals and livestock. Regarding the vegan fashion industry, the eco-friendliness of material selection and design processes were seen as the pivotal factors shaping negative attitudes. Furthermore, the study identified a shared negative perception regarding vegan food and vegan fashion. This negativity was characterized by confusion and conflicts between animal and environmental rights, biased perceptions linked to specific political affiliations, perceived self-righteousness among vegetarians, and general discomfort toward them. These factors collectively contributed to a broader negative perception of vegan consumption. In conclusion, this study is significant in understanding the complex perceptions and attitudes that consumers hold toward vegan food and fashion. The insights gained from this research can aid in the design of more effective campaign strategies aimed at promoting vegan consumerism, ultimately contributing to a more widespread acceptance of ethical veganism in society.

This study utilizes social big data to investigate the factors influencing the awareness, attitude, and behavior toward vegan fashion consumption among global and Korean consumers. Social media posts containing the keyword “vegan fashion” were gathered, and meaningful discourse patterns were identified using semantic network analysis and sentiment analysis. The study revealed that diverse factors guide the purchase of vegan fashion products within global consumer groups, while among Korean consumers, the predominant discourse involved the concepts of veganism and ethics, indicating a heightened awareness of vegan fashion. The research then delved into the factors underpinning awareness (comprehension of animal exploitation, environmental concerns, and alternative materials), attitudes (both positive and negative), and behaviors (exploration, rejection, advocacy, purchase decisions, recommendations, utilization, and disposal). Global consumers placed great significance on product-related information, whereas Korean consumers prioritized ethical integrity and reasonable pricing. In addition, environmental issues stemming from synthetic fibers emerged as a significant factor influencing the awareness, attitude, and behavior regarding vegan fashion consumption. Further, this study confirmed the potential presence of cultural disparities influencing overall awareness, attitude, and behavior concerning the acceptance of vegan fashion, and offers insights into vegan fashion marketing strategies tailored to specific cultures, aiming to provide vegan fashion companies and brands with a deeper understanding of their consumer base.

비건 화장품 시장이 급성장하는 가운데, 소비자의 환경 및 윤리적 가치 지향이 강화되고 있지 만, 이에 관한 연구는 제한적이다. 본 연구는 비건 화장품의 구매의도에 영향을 주는 소비자의 가치 인식과 환경 동기, 그리고 지각된 장벽 간의 관계를 분석하였다. 300명의 비건화장품 사용 경험이 있는 여성을 대 상으로 PLS-SEM 분석을 진행한 결과, 금전적 가치, 사회적 가치, 브랜드 가치, 감정적 가치, 품질 가치, 그리고 환경 지식이 구매의도에 큰 영향을 주는 것으로 확인되었다. 조절 효과 분석에서는 이미지 장벽과 가치 장벽이 중요한 요인으로 나타났다. 중요도-성능 지도 분석을 통해, 감정적 가치가 비건 화장품의 구 매의도를 강화하는 전략적 결정에 중요한 핵심 요인으로 드러났다. 본 연구는 비건 화장품 시장의 경쟁력 강화와 지속 가능한 소비 태도 활성화에 대한 이론적 및 실무적 기여를 제공한다.

This article defines the characteristics of Korean vegetarianism by tracing the changes in the core motives revealed in the historical development of the vegetarian movement that started in the West. We further explore and compare the limitations of the vegetarian movement conceived in the West with the essential values, ‘How can Korean vegetarian culture gain the upper hand?’. Our results indicate that the sequential changes of the motives inherent to the flow of the modern vegetarian movement were <religious-philosophy>, <political-society>, and <healthy-nutrition>. This settled the transition from ‘vegetarianism as an ideological form’ to ‘vegetarianism as a lifestyle’, making it a more becoming way of life. However, along with the spread of ‘vegetarian lifestyle as a form of life’, commercial vegetarianism, which overshadows the essential value of vegetarianism, continued to flourish due to the modern capitalist industrial system. To curb commercialization, the necessity arose to establish a new vegetarian diet with a propensity towards an ‘ecological-environmental point of view’. Thus, in order to establish the term and concept of a vegetarian diet for Korean vegetarian characteristics, we propose the formation of a vegetarian term and concept suitable for the Korean vegetarian culture.

This study identifies the perceptions and choice attributes toward plant-based foods and identifies the differences between vegetarians and omnivores. We conducted an online survey of 245 vegetarians and 246 omnivores. The results reveal a significant difference between vegetarians and omnivores. Compared to omnivores, vegetarians perceived that plant-based food products would be ‘good taste’, ‘animal-friendly’, and ‘consistent with their personal value’. Omnivore scores were higher in the perception that it would be ‘good for health’ and ‘environment-friendly’. No statistically significant difference was obtained between both diet groups when considering the factor of nutrition. When considering choice as an attribute for plant-based food products, vegetarians responded that ‘ingredients’ were the most important, while omnivores responded that ‘taste’ was the most important. These results can be used as basic data for developing and promoting plantbased food products in South Korea.

본 연구에서는 비건 인증(Vegan) 화장품 원료 7종 혼합추출물의 항산화능 및 미백효과를 확인 하였다. 라디컬 소거능으로서 DPPH, ABTS, FRAP 실험, 항산화 물질 측정으로서 폴리페놀과 플라보노이 드 함량 측정을 실시하였다. DPPH 실험에서는 105.74 mg ascorbic acid / g의 항산화능을 나타내었으며, ABTS 실험에서는 85.31 mg ascorbic acid / g의 항산화능을 나타내었다. FRAP에서는 7종 혼합추출물의 1 mg이 ascorbic acid 198.01±5.50 μg의 환원력을 보였다. 폴리페놀 함량은 30.19±0.75 mg/g으로 나타 났으며, 플라보노이드 함량은 9.12±0.36 mg/g으로 나타났다. 한편 세포실험에서는 세포 독성과 미백활성 을 알아보았다. 세포독성의 경우 20% 이하의 세포 독성을 보였으며, 100 μg/mL 농도에서 34.70±2.97% 의 멜라닌 생성 억제능을 보여 7종 혼합추출물의 기능성 화장품 원료로서의 가능성을 확인하였다.

The number of vegans has increased rapidly due to religious and ethical beliefs, environmental concerns, health, etc. Also, as interest in healthy and safe food increases, the demand for organic products or nutrition-enhanced products is increasing. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the selection attributes and purchasing behavior for protein-fortified and vegan snacks. It is anticipated that the results would find use as basic data for developing protein-fortified snacks for vegans that can meet consumer needs and derive marketing strategies. A survey was conducted on 140 consumers. According to the analysis of their purchase behavior, the number of people who had purchased high-protein snacks and vegan snacks was higher than those who did not have prior experience. The reasons for the purchase of protein fortified snacks included ‘meal replacement’ at ‘offline-convenient store/supermarket’. Vegan snacks were purchased for ‘ethical beliefs, health, environment’ at ‘offline-vegan restaurant, bakery’. Both snacks showed above-normal preferences. However, it is necessary to improve taste and flavor when developing these products as these were the factors that negatively impacted the preferences. The attributes were factorized into the ‘showing off factor’, ‘sensory factor’, ‘credence factor’, and ‘functional factor’ and the ‘sensory factor’ was considered the most important.

This study explores determinants of purchase intentions for vegan fashion products based on the modified planned behavior model. Survey data from 434 university students were subjected to an analysis using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The results showed that almost half of the consumers surveyed recognized vegan fashion products and a little more than a half of consumers surveyed had purchase experience for vegan fashion products. Clothing, bags, and shoes are the most frequently purchased vegan fashion product categories. From the results of the model test, purchase intentions on vegan fashion products were determined by attitude, subjective norms, ethical responsibility, and ethical identity of the consumers. When consumers have a more positive attitude, have higher subjective norms, stronger ethical responsibility, and stronger ethical identity regarding the purchase of vegan fashion products, they are likely to have a greater intention to purchase vegan fashion products. The findings contribute to the literature by adding test results for vegan fashion products among the ethical product categories, highlighting the importance of the consideration of product category, which can give somewhat different results when exploring ethical consumption. Based on these findings, marketers need to use special tags or signage highlighting the ethical values and meanings of vegan fashion products to better communicate with target consumers with a high level of ethical responsibility and to help increase consumers’ control over purchase behaviors through reducing barriers generated by insufficient product information.