Shinan-gun Promotes the Unique Taste and Flavor Excellence of 1004 Gul to the World

Full Effort on Overseas Marketing Promotion and Securing Export Routes at Hong Kong FOOD EXPO

Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 14th that it will participate in the HOFEX, Asia's largest Hong Kong International Food Expo, from the 15th to the 20th to promote overseas marketing for the export of 1004 oysters.

The Hong Kong International Food Expo is a global food exhibition featuring exhibitions and events, as well as professional buyer consultations from over 50 countries with guaranteed purchasing power. It is Asia's largest international event and serves as a foothold for entering both Eastern and Western overseas markets.

Scenery of 1004 Gul Aquaculture Farm in Jaeun-myeon
Photo by Sinan-gun

The individual oysters from Shinan-gun have been designated as one of the top 10 export items by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. They are a high-profit aquaculture species guaranteed through exports. Through a government public project, a budget of 11 billion KRW has been secured to promote the scaling-up of aquaculture facilities.

In particular, a leasing business is being promoted simultaneously for graduates of aquaculture schools. Currently, the aquaculture farms are jointly managed and operated with six lessees, and Shinan-gun is participating in the Hong Kong International Food Expo to secure a stable export network for 1004 oysters in the future.

Through this participation, Shinan-gun is confident that it will capture the global palate by securing overseas export routes for 1004 oysters produced in the clean tidal flats registered as a World Natural Heritage site, emphasizing their distinctiveness with a cleaner taste and flavor compared to European oysters, the origin country of individual oysters. They also expect the fruition of the 1004 oyster project, which has been underway since 2018.

Western cultures generally do not consume seafood raw, but oysters are uniquely enjoyed raw. The history of oyster aquaculture is also known to be about 300 years.

In countries like France and the United States, where oyster aquaculture has further developed, improved varieties called individual oysters have been developed. The aquaculture methods expose oysters to the external environment like wild oysters, producing oysters with a droplet shape, good size, taste, and aroma that captivate the global palate. Each country has different preferences for size and weight, so grading systems have been institutionalized to increase added value.

Shinan-gun also has tidal characteristics with large tidal differences, and the 1004 oysters produced through natural exposure have a long shelf life and are praised for their shape, taste, and flavor at famous department stores, hotels, and oyster bars.

To enhance product premiumization and added value, the standardization of aquaculture facilities (to prevent overcrowding) and shipment grading are included in related ordinances and are being operated. The AS certification, an international aquaculture responsible management certification system, is also being pursued.

Governor Park Woo-ryang stated, “We will promote the taste, flavor, excellence, and special charm of 1004 oysters produced in the clean tidal flats of Shinan-gun, registered as a World Natural Heritage site, to the world. We will do our utmost to provide materials and facilitate actual contracts through follow-up contacts after direct meetings with global professional buyers on site.”

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