The domestic vegan population is growing as more and more people become conscious of the
impact of their consumption choices on health, the environment, and animal welfare. Plant-based diets
have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, as well as certain types
of cancer. Many people also choose veganism for ethical reasons, believing that harming animals
for food is wrong. The coronavirus pandemic has also played a role in accelerating the vegan trend.
As the meat supply chain disintegrated and fears of contamination grew, many people turned to
plant-based foods as a safer and more sustainable alternative. The pandemic-induced economic
downturn also pushed many people to look for more affordable food options, and plant-based
foods are often less expensive than meat.

In the last four years (2018-2022), the vegan population in Europe has grown from 1.3 million
to 2.6 million, representing 3.2% of the global population. This trend is accelerating, especially
in Europe. According to Veganz, Europe's first vegan supermarket chain, 22.9% of the European
population are flexitarians (flexible vegetarians who eat meat). The European plant-based food market
was valued at 5.931 billion dollars in 2019, growing by 627 million dollars in 2020 to reach 6.558 billion dollars.

Europe was the world’s largest food market in both 2019 and 2020 and is expected to reach 11.89 billion dollars. in 2026, outpacing all other regions.

Korean food culture is characterized by a wide variety of vegetarian-based recipes and related
products. Fermented foods, gluten-free grains, and dairy-free ingredients, which have recently become
popular among vegans and vegetarians, are already very popular in Korean cuisine, and many of the main
ingredients are vegan and gluten-free. There are many foods that utilize plant-based alternatives to animal
protein (mushrooms, bean curd, etc.), and in line with the health trend, there are health drinks, herbal teas
that help strengthen immunity, and traditional drinks such as misutgaru(roasted grain powder) mixed
with milk or water, and plum tea. Korean kimchi, gochujang, and doenjang, which are traditional
fermented foods, have become popular in the UK.

Veganism in Korea is still in its infancy compared to Europe, but it continues to grow, especially among
young people, and interest is increasing, with the recent 6th Vegan Festa held at the aT Center from
August 19-21, 2022, attracting more than 90 vegan brands and 18,000 visitors from all over the country.