Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries: "Aim for $1 Billion in Gim Exports by 2027"

The government has decided to achieve $1 billion in Gim exports by 2027 through strengthening competitiveness across the entire cycle of Gim production, processing, and export.

On the 31st, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the "Plan to Strengthen Competitiveness in the Gim Industry" with these details. The ministry plans to expand Gim farms to the size of 3,800 soccer fields (2,700 hectares) and attempt offshore Gim farming on a scale of 1,000 hectares for the first time to secure a stable supply of Gim production. Next year, it will consider further expansion of farming areas and examine the feasibility of a "dedicated fishing port for farming" to optimize the farming process. Research and development (R&D) for developing land-based Gim farming technology will also begin next year to enable year-round Gim cultivation.

The ministry forecasts that next year's dried Gim production will increase by 10 million packs (1 pack = 100 sheets) from this year, reaching 160 million packs. It expects an additional 20 million packs can be produced by 2027. Through this, the ministry analyzes that $1 billion in exports will be achievable by 2027. Gim is a representative Korean export food, having achieved exports worth 1 trillion KRW ($790 million) for the first time last year. However, due to the rapidly increasing demand for Gim, a stable production environment must be secured. The ministry diagnosed that the current production volume of raw Gim, seaweed, remains at 500,000 to 600,000 tons, and that proactive measures are needed due to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change.

The ministry will also support the launch of a "Dried Gim Cooperative" (tentative name) to scale up Gim processing and distribution companies. Starting next year, it will review ways to organize about 300 industry players and support the conversion of Gim processing factories into smart factories. To resolve the shortage of logistics facilities in Jeonnam, the main production area of raw Gim, a new regional distribution center (FPC) will be built in Jeonnam’s production area, and the Naju consumer distribution center (FDC) will be expanded to reduce logistics costs.

The Mokpo Fisheries Food Export Complex will be established by 2026 to house Gim processing and export companies, supporting R&D and exports, and the establishment of a dried Gim exchange will be promoted to ensure transparency in Gim transactions and reduce transaction costs.

The name of Gim will be unified as the English term "GIM." This decision was made because Gim has been known by various names overseas such as "Nori," "Seaweed," and "Laver," which caused difficulties in spreading recognition. The ministry will promote the English name GIM and work toward international standardization (Codex Alimentarius Commission) so that Gim product specifications can become a global standard.

Governance between the government and industry will also be strengthened to closely respond to issues such as pricing and supply and demand in the Gim industry. A Gim industry consultative body involving seed, farming, processing, and export sectors will be regularly operated, and the government and Gim industry will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to respond to supply and demand instability.

Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Gim is a food loved by our people as a side dish and in Gim-bap, and it is becoming a food loved worldwide. Through the plan to strengthen competitiveness in the Gim industry, we will ensure that people can consume Gim without burden and do our best to firmly establish the status of our Gim in the global market."

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