[Market Focus] Kimchi Stocks Surge as Kimchi Included for the First Time in Official U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Gut Health

Stocks related to kimchi, such as Daesang Holdings and Pulmuone, are showing strong performance. This appears to be influenced by news that the U.S. government has, for the first time in five years, issued a strong message to “eat real food” and has completely overhauled its national dietary guidelines. The fact that kimchi has been explicitly listed as a representative health food in the U.S. national dietary guidelines signifies that the status of "K-food" has been nutritionally recognized.

With about 70% of American adults being overweight or obese, and one in three teenagers at risk for diabetes, the Trump administration has identified gut microbiome balance as a key element of health and has officially recommended the consumption of fermented foods such as kimchi, doenjang, sauerkraut, and kefir.

As of 9:41 a.m. on January 9, Daesang Holdings was trading at 10,100 won, up 13.48% from the previous day. Pulmuone and Daesang are also showing strong gains.

The Donald Trump administration has officially announced the “2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” These guidelines serve as the standard for all federal nutrition policies, including school meals, military rations, and nutrition assistance programs for low-income households (SNAP).

The administration emphasized that ultra-processed foods and preservatives have harmed the gut health of Americans and that this should be restored by consuming fermented foods and high-fiber foods such as vegetables and fruits. This is the first time that kimchi has been specified as a representative health food in the official U.S. dietary guidelines.