FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues 

Today's Date: Friday,  October 13,  2023

For Coverage:  October 5 ~  11, 2023

 

"Fukushima Seafood is Imported Without Any Regulations If Processed"

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/003/0012141734?sid=101

Summary:  Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2013, South Korea has ceased importing seafood products from eight specific regions in Japan.  However, recent findings reveal that there are no regulations in place regarding the import of processed foods from these prohibited areas.  According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, import records indicate that South Korea has imported 5,819 tons of seafood from Japan between 2019 and the present.  Notably, it has been confirmed that South Korea is importing processed seafood products from these eight restricted areas, totaling 334 tons.  For instance, when importing fish for sushi production, frozen fish is brought in without consideration of whether they come from restricted areas.  Furthermore, using the information from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee pointed out that Korean online platforms such as Coupang are susceptible in purchasing seafood products from these prohibited regions.  These items are imported into South Korea primarily because they are canned or have undergone some level of processing.  When individuals buy such products from the restricted areas, the small quantities involved often lead to inadequate radiation examinations.  In light of these findings, the Committee recommended that a comprehensive examination of the importation of seafood from Japan be conducted to ensure safety and adherence to regulations.

 

Namyang Promotes Consumption of Seafoods… Promised Movie Theater Snack Development Agreement

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/421/0007101207?sid=102

Summary:  Namyang, in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is actively working to boost seafood consumption.  They have forged an agreement to create a seafood snack that can be enjoyed in movie theaters, thereby making seafood more appealing to a wider audience.  This endeavor involves not only Namyang but also the participation of Pukyong National University and the Korean Fisheries Association, all united in their mission to encourage seafood consumption.  These products will be manufactured and distributed through Namyang's supply chain, making them more accessible to customers.  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries representatives emphasize that seafood consumption has evolved from being primarily a home-cooked meal to something that can be enjoyed outside the home.  To promote the consumption of a diverse range of fish products in different settings, they are exploring innovative strategies.  Namyang expresses its commitment to leverage its supply chain capabilities to create high-quality seafood snacks, thereby promoting consumer consumption and improving overall consumer health.  They are dedicated to achieving this objective to the best of their abilities.

 

“I Can't Stand It Today”... Chicken Restaurants Increase Sales

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0004900584?sid=103

Summary:  On September 7th, the Asian Games featured the finals of both baseball and soccer, leading to a surge in chicken orders, a popular choice for Koreans when watching sports.  Many chicken takeout restaurants experienced a significant increase in sales on that particular day.  Genesis BBQ, a prominent chicken franchise in Korea, reported an impressive sales increase of 101.9 percent compared to the average Saturdays.  Kyochon and BHC chicken restaurants also saw substantial sales rises of 70 and 80 percent, respectively, compared to the previous week.  As chicken is often enjoyed with beer in Korea, there was also a notable increase in customers seeking beer in convenience stores.  Emart 24 convenience store reported a 22 percent increase in beer sales compared to the week before, and other beverages and snacks also naturally experienced higher demand.  This phenomenon is not unique and tends to occur whenever a significant sporting event takes place.  Additionally, the annual large fireworks display in Seoul is expected to have further boosted chicken sales.

 

Flour Replacement is Not Suitable for Current Powdered Rice... Continuous Research in Rice Processing is Needed

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/421/0007097134?sid=103

Summary:  Powdered rice, initially thought to be a viable solution for reducing surplus rice and as a wheat substitute for flour, is now facing doubts about its suitability for these purposes.  Consequently, there is a growing consensus that a thorough examination is necessary.  Research conducted by the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee of Korea, in collaboration with major bakery companies like CJ Cheiljedang, SPC Samlip, Orion, and others, has revealed that powdered rice, once regarded as a perfect substitute, is not a sufficient replacement for wheat.  The findings indicate that using powdered rice on its own is not feasible; it can only serve as a substitute for up to 10 percent of the total amount of flour.  Moreover, to maintain its texture and function similar to flour, it requires additional additives, resulting in increased costs.  Additionally, there are concerns about the product's shelf life being relatively short.  While the government is actively investing in the development of powdered rice as a potential wheat substitute, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive investigation into its suitability for this role.

 

This Means “Yes Japan”… Japan Takes Back the No.1 Spot as the Beer-Importing Country of Korea

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0004899094?sid=103

Summary:  The Japanese beer brand Asahi has achieved the third position in sales within the family consumer market.  Despite other beer companies' marketing efforts, Asahi's canned beer with a large lid is gaining notable attention.  According to research conducted by aT, in July, Asahi also secured the third spot in retail sales.  Cass, Terra, and Asahi accounted for 36 percent, 10 percent, and 8 percent of the market share respectively.  However, in August, they dropped to the fourth position, but this isn't disappointing considering their sales just a year ago.  It's not just Asahi; other Japanese beer brands are also gaining popularity in Korea.  This has resulted in Japan becoming the number one source of beer imports for Korea.  According to Korea Customs, this year's import from January to August of Japanese beer has increased by a remarkable 238 percent, reaching 36,573 tons compared to the same time period of the previous year.  The import value has also surged, increasing by 253.2 percent to $30,200,000.  This marks a dramatic increase compared to last year's importation of 18,940 tons.

Pulmuone Strengthens Cooperation with U.S. 'Blue Nalu' in Cell Cultured Seafood
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=104761

Summary:  Pulmuone is strengthening its collaboration with BlueNalu, a startup specialized in cell-cultured seafood, with the aim of accelerating the development of domestic cell-cultured seafood production.  BlueNalu has ambitions for large-scale production of cell-cultured seafood in the near future.  This involves taking stem cells from fish and cultivating them using bioreactors, and ultimately using 3D printing to create edible seafood.  They developed this technology to offer a variety of fish products and are preparing for the necessary verification processes to bring their products to the commercial market.  Since their partnership began in 2019, BlueNalu and Pulmuone have been focused on introducing innovative seafood products in Korea.  This year, their strategic partnership is centered on three key objectives: 1) Conducting consumer research to understand preferences for cell-cultured seafood products, 2) Navigating the regulatory and verification processes for product commercialization, and 3) Managing the supply chain and sales of cell-cultured seafood.  Pulmuone believes that cell-cultured seafood has the potential to solve global seafood supply shortages and contribute to helping environmental issues.  Through their partnership, they are hoping to introduce their products to customers in the near future.