South Korea has experienced significant socioeconomic, dietary, and health transitions in recent decades. As the country became more urbanized and industrialized beginning in the 1970s, physical activity levels decreased while consumption of animal proteins, fats, and calories increased. This nutritional transition contributed to rising obesity levels, with over 30% of adults overweight by 2013. However, Korea also exhibits the "Korean paradox" of high diabetes prevalence despite relatively low obesity. Religious and cultural traditions continue to influence the Korean diet, though their impact has diminished with social changes.

1. South Korea
Names: John Alexander Ferguson, Elaine Hsieh,
Shuhan Zhan, Emily Takeuchi, Minjueng Ma,
Lumeng Bai, Brett Jackson, Ho Ting Leung

2. bibimbap
kimbap
Soju

3. ➢Diet primarily made up of rice,
legumes, meats, seafoods and
vegetables
➢Kimchi used commonly, a
fermented vegetable dish
➢Wide variety of alcoholic and non-
alcoholic drinks
➢Frequent use of condiments to
season food
Quick Overview

4. Environmental Factors
Geographic Setting and Environment
Climate supports agriculture: cold winters, warm summers and long,
pleasant autumns
Main rivers (the Han and the Kum) help to provide adequate water
supply for the agricultural lands to grow rice and grains
The seas surrounding the Korean peninsula—the Yellow and East
China seas, and the Sea of Japan---provide plenty of seafoods.
Koreans eat many preserved foods because these had to be made for
keeping over wintertime.
Chinese invasions: 1) Foods that evolved in China were passed on to
Korea and then to Japan. Rice, cabbage, domesticated animals
were first domesticated in China. 2) Eating with chopsticks from
small bowls was initially developed in China in the Han Dynasty
(about 200 B.C.-about 200 A.D.)

5. Socio-Cultural
Hot foods believed to restore Qi or “chi” (energy flow)
Long noodles symbolize long life and good health
Buddhist traditions have strong influences on Korean cuisine/diet
Ritual food only eaten during those times in the past

6. Socioeconomic
Socioeconomic
Transition
Physical
Activity
Transition
Dietary
Transition
Nutrition
Transition
Body Weight
Transition

7. Socio-economic transition:
1) The GNP of South Korea increased more than 50-fold over the 24 years, from $66 billion to $3308 billion.
2) The proportion of the population living in urban areas also grew more than 30% from 1970s-1990s.
3) The education level increased: people who had high school diploma increased 24% from 1970s-1990s.
Physical activity transition: Physical activities decrease
→ no. of people in the primary industry sector (agriculture, fishing and forestry) decreased , while the number of
people in the tertiary industry sector (service industries) reached more than half the working population in South
Korea.
→ no. of driver’s licenses started to go up from 1978 and increased steadily from then on.
Dietary transition:
1) Consumed more animal foods and less plant foods, while less dependent on cereals as a staple source of energy.
2) More protein and fat were consumed from both animal and plant foods. Total protein consumption
per capita per day increased steadily over the years, and the increase was primarily from animal protein.
Socioeconomic in Detail

8. Socioeconomic Transition

9. Physical Activity Transition

10. Dietary Transition

11. Nutrition transition: The dietary transition led to the nutrition transition,
represented by increased energy from protein and fat and decreased energy
from carbohydrates.
Bodyweight transition: The average BMI of 17-year-old adolescents
increased steadily over this time period.
Socioeconomic cont.

12. Pokorski, R. in the Journal of insurance medicine
The World Health Organization estimated
that 45% of Korean men and 54% of
women were overweight in 2005, and the
percentages are expected to increase to
66% and 67%, respectively, by 2015.

13. Socioeconomic-Health Care Costs

14. Nutritional Status of Population
➢ One study shows that even with an increase in meat consumption and average
purchasing power, consumption of fat did not increase (Kim, Moon, & Popkin,
2000).
➢ Study also stated obesity did not increase significantly although this was in 2000
(Kim, Moon, & Popkin, 2000).
➢ However, another study shows worse results as over 32% of adult Koreans were
overweight in 2013 and over 4% were obese in 2012, a 2.5% increase from 2002
(Lee, 2015).
➢ “Korean Paradox” refers to South Korea’s lower than average developed nation’s
obesity but similar diabetes rates though this could be due to high levels of
smoking and sedentary lifestyles more than food (Mendosa, 2010).

15. Q: How does Korean food in America differ
from that in Korea?
A: Sweeter, Korean food is not usually sweet.
Portion size is much larger.
Q: Why do you think it’s sweeter?
A: Well, I’ve heard that the sugar
consumption level in America is much higher,
that might be an influencer.
Q: Alcohol consumption in Korea is fairly high,
even compared to that in America. Why do
you think this is true?
A: Drinking games are very common in
Korean colleges, and are used as a social
Interview
...tool to get to know each other better.
Drinks are also popular amongst korean
business people for meetings.
Q: Do you know anyone in your family that
has diabetes?
A: Yes, my grandfather has diabetes.
Q: Do you think religion is a strong factor
in influencing the Korean diet? Like there
is a high percentage of buddhism but pork
is a major meat in your diet.
A: Not really... Maybe in the past, but
there are more christians right now, so I
don’t really think buddhism affects.

16. APA Sources
1. Kim, S., Moon, S., and Popkin, B. M. (2000). The nutrition transition in south korea. Am J Clin Nutr, 71(1), 44-53. Retrieved from
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/1/44.full
2. Korean Diabetes Association. (2015). Korean diabetes fact sheet 2015. Korean Diabetes Association, retrieved from
http://www.diabetes.or.kr/bbs/index.html?code=e_resource&category=1
3. Lee, C. (August 13, 2015). Obesity emerges as major health threat in south korea. The Korea Herald, retrieved from
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150813001101
4. Lee, S. K., & Sobal, J. (2003). Socio-economic, dietary, activity, nutrition and body weight transitions in south korea. Public Health Nutrition,
6(07), 665-674, retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14552667
5. Ma, M. (April 10, 2016). Interview with minjueng ma. Personal Experience.
6. Mendosa, D. (October 29, 2010). Diabetes in korea: less obesity but similar diabetes rates. HealthCentral, retrieved from
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/123246/korean-paradox/
7. Podberscek, A.L. (2009). Good to pet and to eat: The keeping and consuming of dogs and cats in South Korea. Journal of Social Issues, 65,
615-632. retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01616.x/epdf