SEOUL, Oct. 3 (Yonhap) — Figures from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries reveal that South Korea’s exports of dried seaweed, or “gim,” rose by 16% in the first eight months of 2023 due to the growing popularity of Korean food and culture abroad.
The exports totaled $540.68 million, up from $466.1 million the year before, while the volume of gim products sold increased 16.4% to 24,862 tons.
Gim is often roasted with sesame oil and salt to be served as a side dish in Korean cuisine, and snacks made of the seaweed have become increasingly popular among foreign consumers in recent years. South Korea holds a 70% share of the global market for dried seaweed.
In 2022, the country shipped a record-breaking 30,470 tons of gim products, though the value fell slightly to $647.55 million from the previous year’s $692.91 million.
The United States, China and Japan are the major export destinations for gim.
In an effort to reach the goal of $1 billion in global sales of gim by 2027, the government has implemented a series of supportive measures, including research and development projects for new seeds that are resistant to rising water temperatures, diversification of export markets, and programs to increase familiarity with the Korean name of gim.
The government is also looking to establish an exchange market dedicated to gim items to ensure stable prices and efficient distribution.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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