Synopsis
On March 6, a report indicated that South Korea's food exports, spearheaded by instant noodles, have grown by an average of 8 percent each year for the last ten years, driven by the global rise of K-culture.Key Takeaways
- Food exports from South Korea have risen significantly.
- Instant noodles play a crucial role in this growth.
- Demand for K-culture is a significant factor.
- Kimchi exports also reached record numbers.
- The US is a major importer of Korean food products.
Seoul, March 6 (NationPress) South Korea's food exports, primarily driven by instant noodles, have experienced an average annual growth of 8 percent over the last decade, fueled by the increasing global fascination with K-culture, a business organization reported on Thursday.
Food exports surged to $7.02 billion in 2024, up from $3.51 billion in 2015, with ramyeon, the Korean term for instant noodles, being the frontrunner in this growth, as outlined in a report by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), according to the Yonhap news agency.
Over the past ten years, ramyeon exports have risen by an impressive 20 percent annually, supported by the robust demand for K-pop and other K-content, along with a rising preference for affordable and easy-to-prepare meals during economic downturns, the report indicated.
In the previous year, ramyeon exports reached $1.36 billion, outpacing other categories such as home meal replacement (HMR) products at $980 million, beverages at $940 million, and health functional foods at $820 million.
The United States, China, and Japan were identified as the top three importers of Korean ramyeon last year.
In the U.S., certain Korean food items, including Samyang Foods’ Buldak spicy ramyeon series, have been featured in major wholesale and discount stores like Costco, as mentioned by a KCCI official.
"The combination of expanded sales channels in key markets and proactive marketing strategies has significantly boosted the demand for Korean instant-ramyeon products globally," the official added.
Additionally, South Korea's kimchi exports witnessed a 6.9 percent increase from the previous year, reaching a record high in 2024, attributed to the rising global interest in Korean cuisine, according to government statistics.
Kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish usually made of fermented cabbage, saw its outbound shipments hit a new record of 47,100 tons, based on data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
In 2023, the country exported 44,000 tons of kimchi and 41,100 tons in 2022.
The value of kimchi exports also reached a record high of US$163.6 million in 2024, reflecting a 5.2 percent increase from the previous year.
