Haenam-gun Promotes Kimchi Export Complex Development Project

Visit to World Kimchi Research Institute, Discussion on Attracting Regional R&D Center

Deputy Governor Kang Sang-gu of Haenam County and the responsible officials visited the World Kimchi Research Institute for a meeting. (Photo by Haenam County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do is accelerating the promotion of the kimchi export complex project to revitalize the Haenam kimchi industry.

According to Haenam-gun on the 16th, Deputy Governor Kang Sang-gu and responsible officials visited the World Kimchi Research Institute on the 16th to discuss the attraction of a regional R&D center and preparations for the establishment of a kimchi export complex.

The World Kimchi Research Institute, established in 2010 in Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, is a government-funded research institute under the Korea Food Research Institute, responsible for fostering the kimchi industry as a national growth engine through research and development related to kimchi.

Haenam-gun plans to attract a regional R&D center equipped with a kimchi component functionality research center for demonstration and analysis within the kimchi export complex, and has agreed to cooperate with the World Kimchi Research Institute to build support infrastructure for the kimchi industry.

Additionally, at the meeting, research and development matters were discussed, including the development of a standard recipe for Haenam kimchi reflecting regional characteristics, quality standardization, sensory evaluation for commercialization, and technology transfer.

Along with this, the county plans to hold a meeting in April with Jeollanam-do, the Jeonnam Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, major companies related to the kimchi processing industry, and other stakeholders to discuss specific measures for establishing the foundation of the kimchi export complex.

The Haenam-gun kimchi export complex will be developed by 2024 within the Food Specialization Complex District 2 in Masan-myeon, establishing infrastructure such as raw material and food storage and logistics centers, processing plants, a kimchi component functionality research center (demonstration, analysis), and support infrastructure for startups, exports, and R&D, fostering it as a specialized export-driven strategic industry of Haenam.

Deputy Governor Kang Sang-gu stated, “In 2020, Korea’s kimchi export amount was 143 billion won, increasing by 36.4% compared to the previous year, and it continues to grow every year,” adding, “We will make every effort to secure national funds without gaps to stimulate Haenam cabbage consumption and to intensively foster the kimchi industry as an export-driven strategic industry.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.