Food trucks in South Korea
Food trucks emerged after a 2014 ban was lifted.
Food trucks are a developing segment of South Korea's street food scene, offering everything from prepackaged frozen treats to freshly prepared sandwiches and hamburgets. In recent years, gourmet and ethnic food trucks, linked to the pop-up restaurant trend, have gained particular popularity.
Quick Facts
- Ban lifted
- August 2014
- President who lifted ban
- Park Geun-Hye
Facts from the source article.
History
Before 2014, converting a vehicle into a food service truck was prohibited in South Korea due to safety and sanitation concerns. She described unnecessary business restrictions as a "lump of cancer killing our body". Food trucks were first approved in designated spaces within amusement and public parks, later expanding to sports facilities, riversides, college campuses, and highway rest areas.
Regulations
Food trucks must report their business to the local district office; those without a business report are considered illegal. They can only operate in licensed facilities, tourist attractions, sports facilities, urban parks, and streams. The government legalized food trucks in September 2014 and reviewed a revision in July 2016 to allow freer movement. Regulations specify that the cooking area height must be less than 1.5 m (1.2 m) and the area between 0.5 sq m and 0.5 sq m.
Policies for growth of food trucks
On July 18, the Seoul city council held a conference with related departments and food truck vendors to discuss ways to invigorate food trucks in the Seoul Metropolitan area. The Seoul Food and Drug Administration reported that the number of food trucks in Seoul totaled 424,000 in late March, accounting for 32 percent of the total. Vendors face difficulties due to a lack of stable operating areas; Seoul has searched for locations since last September but faced opposition from existing businesses, insufficient flow populations, and transportation issues. Sales are mostly limited to events and festivals, with regular profits only from night markets and the Han River project.
Locations
Food trucks are a common sight in Myeong-dong and Noryangjin. The area near Gangnam station’s exits 9 and 10 gained popularity after the TV show Baek Jong-won's Food Truck featured it. At the Bamdokkaebi night market, the number of participating food trucks rose from 124 in March 2016 to 528 within a year. On April 17, the Food and Drug Administration updated the Enforcement Rules of Food Hygiene Act, allowing food parcels to be sold on college campuses, but only by universities or individuals registered as restaurant or bakery operators. A joint venture involving Hyundai Motor Co., Kuffing Grough, Kunnish, and Yonsei University was formed to support food trucks serving university students.
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