Fast‐food consumption in South Korea

Abstract

The consumption of fast‐food products in Korea has undergone a rapid increase over the past ten to fifteen years. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency with which South Koreans consume seven common Western‐style fast‐food products and five common Korean‐style fast‐food products, and to find the socio‐economic group most responsible for the increase in fast‐food consumption. Data were collected on the dietary patterns and socio‐economic backgrounds of 1,745 subjects between the ages of 12 and 64 years in urban and rural areas of Korea. This study showed that the fast‐food products investigated were consumed mainly by Koreans under the age of 30, single, female, residents of Seoul, and either presently students or young adults with only grade school education. However, the results indicated that the consumption of most fast‐food products was distributed amongst all income levels.