Hoengseong Hanwoo Becomes Korea's First to Be Exported to UAE... A New Chapter for K-Food Hallyu

Hoengseong Hanwoo Makes Historic Entry into the Middle Eastern Market

On September 30, 2025, the premium Korean beef brand "Hoengseong Hanwoo" became the first in Korea to be exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking its official entry into the Middle Eastern market.

A panoramic view of Hoengseong County Office.

The Hanwoo beef exported on this occasion was produced by the Hoengseong Livestock Cooperative Association. This achievement is the result of long-term collaboration between Hoengseong County, Hanwoo farmers, producer organizations, and local companies, all of whom have worked together to establish a foundation of quality and institutional standards.

For this export, Hoengseong KC, the local slaughterhouse, received the nation's first-ever UAE Halal-certified slaughterhouse approval in January 2025 after extensive preparations.

Subsequently, on September 11, the UAE government (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MOCCAE) officially approved the facility as an export processing plant, enabling full-scale exports of Hoengseong Hanwoo beef to the UAE.

Over the past decade, Hoengseong County has invested more than 2.6 billion won to support facility upgrades in line with international standards for export processing plants. Since 2010, the county has also maintained a differentiated quality management system for Hoengseong Hanwoo through the "Hoengseong Hanwoo County Governor’s Quality Certification System."

In addition, various efforts have been made this year to establish an export base and promote the brand.

In May, Hoengseong County, Hoengseong KC, the Hoengseong Livestock Cooperative Association, and the Hoengseong Hanwoo Cooperative Association signed a "Hoengseong Hanwoo Export Promotion Agreement," pledging to strengthen the competitiveness of the Hanwoo industry and increase farmer incomes through expanded beef exports.

In June, Hoengseong County and Hoengseong KC hosted an exclusive promotional event in Dubai, inviting local distributors and buyers from top luxury hotels to pioneer the Middle Eastern export market for Hoengseong Hanwoo. They also achieved results by signing export MOUs with local companies.

In August, Hoengseong County appointed Moon Kyungsoo, the executive chef of Dubai’s Sunset Hospitality Group, as the Hoengseong Hanwoo UAE Promotional Ambassador, further strengthening local marketing efforts.

A portion of this export shipment will also be supplied to HANU, the restaurant managed by Chef Moon.

This export to the UAE is the result of Hoengseong Hanwoo’s outstanding quality management system, the support of local Hanwoo farmers, and close cooperation among the county, producer organizations, and local companies. In particular, the unique rich flavor and tender texture of Hoengseong Hanwoo have received positive reviews in the local market.

Meanwhile, the Hoengseong Livestock Cooperative Association, which initiated Hanwoo exports, held a "Hoengseong Hanwoo UAE Export Commemoration Ceremony" on October 14 in the parking lot of its main office.

Representatives from related institutions, organizations, and farmers attended the ceremony to celebrate the global advancement of Korea's Hanwoo industry.

Kim Myunggi, Governor of Hoengseong County, stated, "The export of Hoengseong Hanwoo to the UAE is the result of many years of dedicated preparation by Hoengseong County, producer organizations, and the slaughterhouse. I deeply appreciate the Hanwoo farmers, producer organizations, and companies who made this achievement possible, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), Nonghyup Agribusiness Group, and the Hanwoo Board for their international cooperation and support."

He added, "Going forward, we will further strengthen our trust with domestic and international organizations so that Hoengseong Hanwoo can grow into a beloved global brand and continue to expand its export channels worldwide."

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