Published 02 Feb.2024 08:00(KST)
Updated 02 Feb.2024 14:23(KST)
The government plans to grow the global Korean food industry to 300 trillion won by 2027. It aims to foster 100 Michelin-level Korean restaurants and increase the number of overseas Korean restaurants to 15,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported the "Strategy to Strengthen the Global Competitiveness of the Korean Food Industry" at the Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting on the 2nd, in line with the worldwide popularity of Korean cuisine.
First, to strengthen the Korean food industry infrastructure, the education program, which was previously only for culinary students, will be expanded to include current industry workers. Support for Korean food professional training institutions, currently at 5 institutions and about 250 people, will be increased to 8 institutions and 600 people by 2027.
Regular Korean culinary courses will be established in renowned overseas culinary schools. Starting with 2 schools this year, the number will expand to 5 by 2027, cultivating excellent Korean food talent abroad. A local food promotion center will be established by 2026.
The brand keyword for Korean food, Adventurous Table, will be derived to promote the diverse appeal of Korean cuisine, and the Korean food brand logo will be unveiled in the first half of the year. Ten major Korean food terms such as ssamjang, gim, gamtae, Makgeolli, galbi, and gui will be selected and spread worldwide with their original Korean spellings.
For the first time in Korea, international gourmet events such as the "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" will be held in March, and a Korean food global conference inviting world-renowned culinary masters will be regularly held every autumn to elevate the status of Korean cuisine in the gourmet market.
Efforts will also be made to enhance the competitiveness of Korean restaurants. Among overseas Korean restaurants, the top 1%, or 100 locations, will be designated and fostered. Additionally, 15 K-Gourmet belts linking the primary to tertiary industries will be created by 2027, themed around fermentation culture, traditional Korean food, seasonal meals, and trendy Korean cuisine.
Through this, the global Korean food industry, currently valued at 152 trillion won (as of 2021), is planned to grow to 300 trillion won by 2027. Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "We will devote all policy efforts to firmly establish the Korean food industry as a leading industry in the global gourmet mega trend, riding the wave of the K-Culture boom."
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