6 out of 10 foreigners say "I know Korean food well"... 'K-Chicken' is the most preferred
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 2023 Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey Results
Six out of ten foreigners are familiar with Korean cuisine. The most favorite menu item was identified as 'Korean-style chicken.'
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation conducted a survey on overseas Korean food consumers targeting locals residing in 18 major cities abroad, including Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, and New York, in 2023, and announced the results on the 4th.
The survey showed that the percentage of respondents who are well aware of Korean cuisine increased by 2.4 percentage points from the previous year to 60.0%, showing an upward trend over the past five years. The percentage of respondents who had heard of Korean cuisine within the past year was 86.5%. In particular, satisfaction with Korean cuisine was 92.5%, maintaining a high level above 90% over the past five years.
The most preferred Korean dish was Korean-style chicken (16.5%). This was followed by ramen (11.1%) and kimchi (9.8%). The Korean dishes most frequently eaten in the past year were Korean-style chicken (29.4%, multiple responses), kimchi (28.6%), and ramen (26.9%).
When asked about menus associated with 'Korean food,' kimchi was the most mentioned at 40.2% (multiple responses). This was followed by bibimbap (23.6%), Korean-style chicken (16.2%), bulgogi (13.3%), and grilled meat (12.0%). The images associated with Korean cuisine included 'flavorful,' 'reasonably priced,' 'popular,' and 'trendy.'
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Moon Ji-in, Director of the Food and Dining Industry Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Along with the selection of 11 Korean restaurants in New York City for the Michelin Guide last year, this survey confirmed that overseas consumers’ awareness of Korean cuisine is expanding and satisfaction remains high. We will actively support Korean cuisine to become a part of overseas consumers’ daily diets beyond a one-time experience."
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