'Black Semiconductor' Korea's Kim Export Hits 1 Trillion Won Jackpot... Also Sought in Middle East and South America

For the first time in Korea's seafood industry, seaweed export revenue has reached 1 trillion won annually.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that Korea's representative seafood product, seaweed, recorded an annual export revenue of 1 trillion won (770 million USD). This is the highest performance for a single seafood export item.

The growth in seaweed export performance is attributed to technological innovation and new product development by producers, processors, and export companies. As a result of pioneering new markets such as the Middle East and South America, in addition to traditional export markets like the United States, China, and Japan, export revenue has increased at an average annual rate of about 8% over the past 10 years. The number of export countries has also nearly doubled, from 64 countries in 2010 to 124 countries in 2023.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries explained that it is expanding annual support for the seaweed industry to develop Korean seaweed as a preferred food for people worldwide by assisting with international certification acquisition, providing export vouchers, and participating in overseas trade consultations.

Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "We will continue to actively promote brand marketing and new product development to firmly maintain our seaweed's position as the number one in the overseas seaweed market share," adding, "We plan to achieve seaweed export revenue of 1 billion USD (1.3 trillion won) by 2027."