• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-268
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Zinc is an essential trace mineral which is important for the growth and development of the human body and immunological and neurological functions. Inadequate zinc intake may cause zinc deficiency with its adverse consequences. In this study, we aimed to estimate the dietary zinc intake levels and sources among Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For this secondary analysis, we obtained data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2019. Individuals aged ≥ 1 yr who had completed a 24-h recall were included. The dietary zinc intake of each individual was calculated by applying data from a newly developed zinc content database to the KNHANES raw data. We also compared the extracted data with the sex-, age-specific reference values suggested in the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes 2020. The prevalence of adequate zinc intake was then evaluated by the proportion of the individuals who met the estimated average requirement (EAR). RESULTS: The mean zinc intake of Koreans aged ≥ 1 yr and adults aged ≥ 19 yrs were 10.2 and 10.4 mg/day, equivalent to 147.4% and 140.8% of the EAR, respectively. Approximately 2 in 3 Koreans met the EAR for zinc, but the zinc intake differed slightly among the different age and sex groups. In children aged 1-2 yrs, 2 out of 5 exceeded the upper level of intake, and nearly half of the younger adults (19-29 yrs) and the elders (≥ 75 yrs) did not meet the EAR. The major contributing food groups were grains (38.9%), meats (20.4%), and vegetables (11.1%). The top 5 food contributors to zinc intake were rice, beef, pork, egg, and baechu kimchi, which accounted for half of the dietary intake. CONCLUSION: The mean zinc intake among Koreans was above the recommended level, but 1 in 3 Koreans had inadequate zinc intake and some children were at risk of excessive zinc intake. Our study included zinc intake from diet only, thus to better understand zinc status, further research to include intake from dietary supplements is needed.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-110
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation and preference for South Korean food among North Korean refugees. A survey was conducted on 220 North Korean refugees regarding general questions, adaptations, and preference on consuming dishes in South Korea. The results of the survey showed that the average difficulty degree scored with the adaptation to South Korean food was 3.06 points out of 5.00 points. The adaptation to Korean food was investigated as 'average' and some North Korean refugees had some difficulties in South Korean food. Some respondents described South Korean food as having very strong flavor that tastes more sweetened, seasoned, and spicy than North Korean food. The extended residency in South Korea allowed North Korean refugees to become more familiar with sweetened flavors. Most of them enjoy an oily and spicy taste more than South Koreans. North Korean refugees like Ssal bap, Naengmyeon, Doenjang-guk, Galbi-jjim, Bulgogi(beef, pork), Chaesobokkeum, Oi-saengchae, Chaeso-jeon, Baechu-kimchi, Saengsun-twigim, Soondae, pears, fruit juice, and spring water. North Korean refugees over the age of 30 years enjoy classic foods such as Japgokbap, Gimbap, Jumeokbap, Hwedeopbap, and Chobap. On the other hand, North Korean refugees less than 30 years old enjoy new foods like ramen and spaghetti.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.283-289
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• 2011

The preference and satisfaction for Korean food by Chinese students studying at Mokpo National University of Korea were surveyed. The students (n=167) were 53.9% males, 58.1% Korean residents for 6 months and 47.9% in healthy condition. The recognition of Korean food was highly light taste ($3.36{\pm}0.95$) and the preference of Korean food materials was in the order of beef (46.7%), hairtail fish (28.7%), baechu (24.4%), tangerine (49.1%), milk (38.9%) in each food category. Eating habits were feeling of hunger on reason for eating (43.1%), moderate satiety degree for a diet (58.7%), no time for reason to skip diet (48.5%), family for impact factor of eating habits (55.1%) and irregular diet time for the problem of eating habits (40.1%). The recognition of Korean food menu was in the order of baechukimchi, bulgogi, ggakdugi, samgyupsal, ddeokbokki, galbitang, and gomtang; the preference order was bulgogi, doejigalbijjim, soegalbijjim, dakgalbijjim, samgyupsal, galbitang, and dakdoritang. The recognition and preference of Korean food menu were significant in bibimbap, tteokguk, doenjang jjigae, kimchi jjigae, ddeokbokki, japchae, baechukimchi, and ggakdugi (p<0.001), as well as jeonbokjuk, bibimguksu, soegalbijjim, doejigalbijjim, dakgalbijjim, saengseonmaeuntang, gomtamg (p<0.01), hobakjuk, bulgogi, and dakdoritang (p<0.05). The actual dormitory foodservice was twice daily (47.3%), <10~20 min for diet time (65.3%). The reason for using university foodservice was compulsory diet (37.1%) whereas the reason of not using university foodservice was tastelessness (45.5%); kimchi was the most leftover (27.5%). According to foodservice quality attribute, the importance and satisfaction were the highest in hygienic part. Foodservice quality attribute was significant between importance and satisfaction in all items except location of facilities foodservice (p<0.001).