Goheung County Southeast Asia Market Development Team Begins Full-Scale Expansion of Agricultural and Marine Product Exports

Export Agreements Worth $11 Million Signed
Governor Gong Youngmin: "Establishing a Stable Export Base"

Goheung County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Youngmin) announced on the 27th that it had formed a Southeast Asia Export Delegation, visiting Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam from the 19th to the 25th, and signed export agreements worth a total of $11 million to expand the overseas market entry of Goheung-produced agricultural and marine products such as gim (seaweed), miyeok (kelp), and processed yuja (citron) products.

The county is focusing on expanding gim exports, and on the 20th, signed an agreement worth $5 million with Java Superfood (CEO Philip Bae) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Commemorative photo of the visit on the 20th to conclude a $5 million export agreement of agricultural and marine products from Goheung with Indonesia Java Superfood Company. Provided by Goheung County

Through this agreement, a gimjaban (seasoned seaweed flakes) product combining Goheung gim and Indonesian katsuobushi will be produced and sold in various global markets, including Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.

On the 22nd in Bangkok, Thailand, the county signed a $1 million entry agreement with Jidubang Asia (CEO Lim Junho) and also secured a $2 million dried gim export agreement with TMK (CEO Kang Byungsoo). These agreements are expected to promote the quality of Goheung agricultural products and raise their recognition in the Southeast Asian market.

On the 24th in Hanoi, Vietnam, the county signed a total $3 million agricultural and marine product export agreement with local distributor Dongyang Nongsusan (CEO Hong Deokja), officially launching Goheung rice and namul (seasoned vegetables) into the Vietnamese market.

Through this agreement, Goheung County will export 20 tons of rice to Vietnam, which is considered a significant achievement demonstrating the competitiveness of Goheung rice even in a major rice-producing country like Vietnam.

The county also held promotional events to directly reach local consumers. On the 22nd at Paradise Mall in Bangkok, Thailand, a special promotion was held to introduce Goheung gim and offer gifts, resulting in a complete sell-out of Goheung gim bugak (crispy seaweed snacks) within just 20 minutes of the event starting.

Local consumers expressed high satisfaction with the quality, saying, "The gim bugak is crispy and savory." Additionally, on the 23rd at One Market in Hanoi, Vietnam, a tasting event featuring kimbap made with Goheung rice, namul, and gim was held, where local consumers praised the fresh ingredients and deep flavors, experiencing the taste of Korea.

The county did not stop at simply signing export contracts but also focused on building local networks. On the 20th, the delegation visited APKASI, the Indonesian Association of Local Governments, and met with Musi Rawas County Governor P. Suhartoni and others. Through these discussions, Goheung County aims to establish a practical cooperation base in the Indonesian market and expand agricultural and marine product exports through ongoing economic cooperation.

On the 24th in Hanoi, Vietnam, a meeting was held with 17 Korean businesspeople from the Honam region, including Song Insu, CEO of MDA Construction, to discuss practical cooperation measures for expanding Goheung agricultural and marine products into the Southeast Asian market.

Governor Gong Youngmin stated, "I believe it is most important to enable farmers and fishers to focus solely on production," and added, "As the vanguard of Goheung agricultural and marine product sales and as the head of the administration, I will continue to establish a more stable and sustainable export base in the future."