How to Tell If Food Is Halal in Korea: Labels, Certificates
Here is how to tell if food is halal in Korea. Check the halal certificate and read the label on packaged food. Then ask staff three questions in Korean.
Check the certificate
In Korea, halal certification from the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) is handled by HAI Korea (Halal Advancement Institute of Korea), an institute under KMF.
If a restaurant or a product shows a halal certificate, look for:
- who issued it
- the dates, including the expiry date
- the certificate number
HAI Korea's website links to a list of KMF-certified businesses. For each one, the list shows the certified products or restaurant, the issue and expiry dates, and a certificate number. You can match the name and dates you see with this list.
Two more things to keep in mind:
- Certification is given per product or per restaurant. One certified product does not mean the company's other products are certified too.
- Each certificate has an expiry date, and the list still includes some entries that have expired. Check the dates, not just the name.
Know the KTO categories
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) sorts Muslim-friendly restaurants into four categories. "Muslim-friendly" here is a KTO category, not a Halalmap label.
- Halal Certified: certified by a recognized halal certification body such as KMF
- Self-certified: the whole menu is halal, as stated by the Muslim owner
- Muslim Friendly: some dishes are halal. Alcohol may be sold.
- Pork free: there is no halal menu, but pork is not used. Alcohol may be sold.
KTO also notes that hotel restaurants and buffets listed as Muslim-friendly may serve dishes that contain pork. So "Muslim-friendly" on its own does not tell you whether the whole menu is halal.
Read the label on packaged food
Korean food labels follow rules from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Three parts of the label help here:
- The ingredient list. In the full list, ingredients go from the largest amount down. Very small amounts may be out of order.
- The allergen box. Pork is one of the allergens that must be labeled, even in small amounts. It appears in the ingredient list and again in a separate box near it, with a different background color.
- The facility note. Some labels say the product was made in the same facility as products that use certain allergens.
The example below is redrawn from a real Korean label, with these three parts marked A, B and C.
The word pork can appear in any of these, so read each one separately.
Not sure how to treat a same-facility note? Muslims follow different practices. Please ask a scholar you trust.
A label does not always show everything:
- Some products show the main ingredients on the pack and give the full list through a QR code or barcode. Scan it to see the rest. Allergen labeling stays on the pack.
- Very small packs may show a shorter ingredient list.
- Flavorings can be listed simply as "flavors".
- Some additives and enzymes can be left out, for example when they come in through another ingredient in a very small amount or are used up during processing.
If it matters to you, look for a halal mark on the pack or contact the maker.
What to ask
At a restaurant, you can ask staff directly. Here are three short questions. You can show the Korean to staff or read it out.
1. Is the whole menu halal, or only some dishes?
메뉴 전부 할랄이에요?
(Menyu jeonbu halal-ieyo?)
2. Is there pork in this dish?
이 음식에 돼지고기 들어가요?
(I eumsige dwaejigogi deureogayo?)
3. Do you use alcohol or cooking wine in this dish?
요리에 술이나 맛술 넣어요?
(Yorie surina matsul neoeoyo?)
On Halalmap
Each restaurant page on Halalmap has a Halal information section with these items: Halal certification, Ownership, Menu, Shared kitchen with non-halal food, Pork and Alcohol. Each item shows what people reported, for example "Users say certified", "Not fully halal" or "No pork served". "Not confirmed" means no one has reported that item yet. It does not mean "no".
The line under the heading reads "Community-sourced · Check with staff before visiting". Halal details are reported by users, so please check with staff when it matters.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if food is halal in Korea at a restaurant?
If the restaurant shows a halal certificate, check who issued it and its dates, and compare them with the KMF list on HAI Korea's website. If there is no certificate, ask staff the questions above.
Is a Muslim-friendly restaurant in Korea halal certified?
Not always. In KTO's categories, Halal Certified means certified by a recognized body such as KMF. Muslim Friendly means some dishes are halal.
Is alcohol sold at Muslim-friendly restaurants?
It can be. KTO says alcohol may be sold at restaurants in its Muslim Friendly and Pork free categories.
Halal restaurants in Seoul
Looking for a halal restaurant in Seoul?
The Halalmap team
Last updated: 25 October 2026