Hansalim is a living cooperative that producers and consumers gather together to share eco-friendly goods and organic produce directly. On December 4, 1986, Hansalim, which started as a small rice restaurant in Gyeonggi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, has the most extended history of life cooperatives in Korea and has the most significant number of members.

The ‘Han’ of Hansalim means big, one, whole, together, whole universe life, and ‘salim’ means to live. ‘Hansalim’ means to live together with all life in one house with the values and worldview of life.

In addition to a supply of goods, Hansalim is also engaged in a variety of lifestyle and cultural activities to combat climate change, nuclear threats, energy depletion, agriculture and the food crisis.

Orga Whole Food and Pulmuone Orga is the premium, organic storefront for the Pulmuone corporation. Pulmuone was a long history of being one of the first organic food corporations in Korea. They started their company in 1981 as Pulmuone Chemical-free Product Market in Apgujeong (풀무원 농산물 직판장). The founder Kyung-sun Won has strong ethics and principles on creating healthy, clean food.

Founder Won was one of the first to show transparency in the sourcing and creation of food products. They introduced LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) standards to Korea, and they aim to become a global company. Their signature products include their healthy and clean tofu, pesticide-free bean sprouts and their organic line for babies.

This company started in 1998 under the name of 21세기 생협연대. Their current name,  iCoop stands for ideal, innocence, innovation, cooperative. iCoop focused on being the bridge between farmers and consumers. They believe that through responsible and ethical business practices such as fair trade, fair travel, human rights, and social enterprise that they can solve the agricultural problem in Korea and solve the problems in Korean society. Feature body burden campaign here.

Their signature products include their exclusive line of ramyeon, dumplings, kimchi and pancake mixes that use local flour.

Hong Yong Jae’s food is as satisfying as it is nourishing and healthy. A former doctor who believes he overcame his struggle with incurable cancer by using the curative properties of food, he opened this restaurant as a tribute to healthy eating. True or not, it makes a good back-story, and the food here is so creative and flavorful that it doesn’t matter. The open wood interior works well with the simple, creatively combined ingredients. Hong Yong Jae is yet another example that food can be healthy without sacrificing variety and flavor.

An all vegan-restaurant in the backstreets of Itaewon, Plant knows how to make a beautifully balanced and vegetable-packed meal that doesn’t leave you hungry. Their avocado and hummus salad are packed with carbs and healthy fats and a plethora of colorful vegetables that tastes great and look great on the gram.

Although there’s only one salad on the menu as of now, their meal selection rotates seasonally and includes all the veggie goodness your body needs. Their rainbow tempeh burrito wrap, for example, packs all the vitamins from A-Z. A daily selection of vegan baked goods, green smoothie, and other vegan meal options available as well.

Perhaps you’re looking for a way to impress during your next date night. Or you want to pamper your taste buds without getting out of your pajamas. Maybe you’re just tired of choosing between convenience store kimbap and fried chicken delivery every night. Instead, you’re thinking authentic European cheese, artisan cured and smoked meats, grass-fed hanwoo beef, and fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world.

If that’s the case, you don’t have to look too far. An increasing number of gourmet grocery stores are opening across Seoul, delivering these and other specialty items right into your shopping cart.