The Era of 1 Trillion Won Seaweed Exports... At the Center Is "Mokpo City"

Full-scale Establishment of the "International Dried Seaweed Exchange" Begins

With Korea's seaweed exports reaching $997 million last year and surpassing the 1 trillion won mark for the second consecutive year, Mokpo City in South Jeolla Province is gaining attention as the central hub of the seaweed industry.

According to the city on May 30, Mokpo recorded $133 million in seaweed exports last year, ranking first among all local governments nationwide. In particular, first-quarter export performance this year reached $30 million, a 42.8% increase compared to the same period last year, once again proving Mokpo's status as a leading city in Korea's seaweed industry. These achievements are the result of Mokpo designating the seaweed industry as an export-oriented strategic sector and concentrating administrative and policy support on its development.

Dried seaweed is being packaged at the Mokpo Fisheries Food Support Center. Provided by Mokpo City

In 2022, the Mokpo Fisheries Food Support Center was designated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries as the nation's first specialized agency for the seaweed industry, laying the foundation for industry specialization. Following this, in 2023, Mokpo was selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT's "AI-based Dried Seaweed Quality Grading Solution Development Project" and has since been conducting advanced research on dried seaweed quality for three years.

Additionally, in February this year, the center obtained international accreditation as a testing institution (KOLAS), further enhancing the reliability and global competitiveness of its fisheries food research.

Mokpo City is actively pursuing the establishment of an "International Dried Seaweed Exchange" as a future growth engine for the seaweed industry. With support from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and South Jeolla Province, a total of 113.7 billion won is being invested by next year to create a 46,612-square-meter "Fisheries Food Export Complex," within which the exchange will be established.

The International Dried Seaweed Exchange is expected to serve as a standard platform for seaweed distribution, directly engaging global buyers, and to become a key infrastructure for enhancing market transparency and transaction stability.

Recently, the spread of Korean Wave content and changes in global food culture trends have led to a steady increase in demand for seaweed. In particular, demand for seasoned seaweed is expanding in major markets such as the United States, China, and Southeast Asia, with localized consumption on the rise. In response, Mokpo is strengthening both high-quality product manufacturing and global marketing efforts.

A city official stated, "Seaweed exports go beyond simply exporting food; they convey Korea's culture, sentiment, and pride to the world. We will do our utmost to develop the seaweed industry into a high value-added fisheries food sector and to elevate Korea's global standing."