Inclusion of Food Culture Minorities on University Campuses : A Study on Experiences of Vegetarian and Muslim Students at a University in Seoul

The rise in food culture minorities on university campuses has highlighted food as a major area of inclusion on campuses. This study examined the inclusion of food culture minorities on a university campus based on the experiences of vegetarian and Muslim students attending Seoul National University. A qualitative approach was implemented, with focus group interviews conducted with six vegetarian students and five Muslim students in August 2023. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified the experiences of food culture minorities regarding their meal choices on campus and the social challenges they faced. The analysis showed that food culture minorities encountered difficulties because of the constrained food environments, insufficient provision of ingredient and menu information, and high cost and low quality of meals. These challenges also led to health problems. The social challenges faced by food culture minorities included a lack of social awareness, constraints on social activities, and difficulties in social interactions. These challenges also led food culture minorities to compromise their preferences on diet. The results suggest that the inclusion of food culture minorities on a university campus is insufficient. These results highlight the need for more inclusive environments for food culture on university campuses.