Overseas Kimbap Popularity... Seaweed Exports Reach 'All-Time High'

Domestic Seafood Product Exports Exceed 3 Billion USD for 2 Consecutive Years

Exports of domestic seafood products exceeded 3 billion dollars (approximately 3.9 trillion KRW) for the second consecutive year. Among these, seaweed exports reached a record high of 790 million dollars (approximately 1.03 trillion KRW).

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 7th that last year's seafood product export value was recorded at 3.004 billion dollars. This is the second-largest figure following the all-time high of 3.15 billion dollars set in 2022. By product category, seaweed exports increased by 22.2% compared to the previous year, reaching 790 million dollars, the highest ever. Seaweed, often called the "black semiconductor," is leading seafood product exports. The global seaweed market size was 918 million dollars as of last year, with Korea holding a 70.6% market share, ranking first.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Following seaweed, tuna exports ranked second with 560 million dollars (approximately 730 billion KRW). Tuna is mainly exported in raw form to countries such as Japan and Thailand. Next is oyster, with export value of 86 million dollars (approximately 110 billion KRW). Oysters were exported to Japan and the United States, with export value increasing by 8% compared to the previous year.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries formed a "Seafood Product Export Support Team" last year in collaboration with the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) to support export companies. They also held events inviting overseas buyers in Busan and Beijing, China.

Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "This year as well, we will promptly support export companies and visit the field to communicate closely."

Meanwhile, influenced by Korean dramas, movies, and variety shows, seaweed, represented by gimbap, is becoming an increasingly familiar food ingredient worldwide. In August last year, a Korean-American creator living in the United States posted a short-form video on the platform TikTok showing frozen gimbap purchased at a local grocery store, which sparked explosive reactions. This gimbap, made by the Korean SME Olgod, subsequently gained great popularity, leading to a temporary sell-out at the US retail chain Trader Joe's, which sells the product.

Seaweed exports are expanding not only in existing markets such as the United States, China, and Japan but also in new markets like the Middle East and South America. As a result, seaweed exports have increased by an average of 8% annually over the past decade, and the number of export countries has nearly doubled from 64 in 2010 to 124 this year.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the "Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey" conducted last year by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute targeting locals residing in 18 major cities overseas including Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, and New York, 60.0% responded that they are well aware of Korean food, an increase of 2.4 percentage points from the previous year. This figure has been rising annually from 54.6% in 2019 to last year.

Within the past year, 86.5% responded that they had heard of Korean food. Satisfaction with Korean food was 92.5%, slightly lower than the previous year's 94.2%, but it has maintained a high level above 90% annually over the past five years. The menu most associated with "Korean food" was kimchi at 40.2% (multiple responses allowed), overwhelmingly ranked first, followed by bibimbap (23.6%) and bulgogi (16.3%). Korean-style chicken (13.3%), grilled meat (12.0%), tteokbokki (11.7%), gimbap (9.0%), and ramen (8.3%) followed.

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