Finding Halal Foods in Gwangju: Challenges That Need to Be Accepted

By Qurratu

Having a solid six years’ experience living in a dormitory, food taste does not matter because I am grateful enough that a plate of rice is guaranteed three times a day, being served without fail. Hence, I am confident to say that I never felt any difficulties in altering my Malaysian taste buds to adapt to Korean cuisine. However, finding halal food in Gwangju is not that easy. In addition to homesickness and financial worries, this is another challenge that Muslim international students especially need to prepare for. Never did I imagine that it would be this difficult to find halal food here, and because of this, I have come to appreciate food more than ever.

As Muslims, we consume halal food, which is “any food or product prepared and handled according to Islamic Sharia law, as interpreted in the Quran” (Ruiz, 2022 ). To put it simply, there must be no trace of pork or alcohol, and it must not mix with haram (“forbidden”) foods. Halal foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, and zabiha meats (duck, chicken, lamb, beef, etc., that are slaughtered in a permissible way). Others might say having a restriction is a hindrance, but as everything is set with beautiful reasons, personally, I do not complain much. Syra (2021) mentioned that halal foods keep our bodies healthy and clean, and ensure we slaughter the animal with the most considerate method.

How do I overcome this difficulty in searching for halal food? It is either by eating at a halal restaurant or preparing my meals. There are quite a few halal restaurants in Gwangju, and the nearest to my university is Registan Avenue in Yongbong-dong. Uzbek cuisine is marvelous, and I love it more than I expected. However, eating out in general sure burns a hole in my wallet, and as an international student, I must avoid being in the red. Thus, cooking for myself is the safest option! Halal meats can be easily purchased on Coupang, ordered anytime and anywhere, and they will arrive at your doorstep in no time. Since this also costs quite a lot, I always settle for a vegetarian meal with cheap protein alternatives like tofu and eggs.

Quickly, I realized that I needed to adapt to this new lifestyle by first accepting the fact that it is not easy to eat halal foods in Gwangju, at least for now. Second, I needed to make cooking fun! Yes, it is troublesome to cook every meal because of all the dishes needed. However, it can be easier and more enjoyable with creativity and by making journals of our cooking journey. Next, before heading to HomePlus, I do my research and make a shopping list based on a well-organized meal plan that can last a long time – up to two weeks. This strategy greatly helps me with managing my finances, and thanks to this, I can even treat myself by eating out occasionally without any guilt.

It is not an easy transition from halal food everywhere to halal food nowhere. Nevertheless, it became tolerable and manageable as time passed by, since I am used to it. I am not struggling on my own; with the bits of help from people around me, the burden on my shoulders becomes lighter. Their brilliant ideas, pieces of advice, and even the foods they share with me are the things that help maneuver me to face this difficulty. Rather than a difficult transition, I would like to use the word “interesting” instead. When and where else will I have this kind of experience in life? Pushing myself to learn how to cook, master my finances, and enjoy my international student life at the same time has helped to make sure I am full throughout the day.

To conclude, finding halal foods is challenging for me, but I always remind myself that others are facing many more difficulties, so I should not be discouraged by this little test in life. After all, money is the main point, and tracking my finances is the key to making sure I enjoy studying abroad to the fullest. Studying abroad, eating delicious food, and happy traveling are not granted to everyone, so never take this situation lightly, and see all those challenges on the brighter side. With a positive and clear mindset, I am excited to explore my newly discovered talent in coming up with more meal ideas and also cheat codes for stabilizing my finances.

The Author

Qurratu, who comes from Malaysia, never worried about finding halal foods, but that changed when she came to Gwangju to study. Nevertheless, she now slowly comes up with solutions and gets to enjoy Korean halal cuisine even more.