FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues 

Today's Date: Friday,   December 6,  2024

For Coverage:  November 23  ~ December 6, 2024

Korea’s cumulative exports of agricultural food through November this year have reached $9.05 billion
https://www.news1.kr/economy/trend/5619352
Summary:  According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, exports of agricultural food, as of the end of November, reached $9.05 billion, an 8.1% increase from the previous year.  This is attributed to strong export growth of instant noodles (ramen), snacks, beverages, and rice processed foods.  Out of these products, ramen has been exported worth $1.138 billion through November of this year, increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.  Rice processed foods such as frozen kimbap and instant rice rose 39.3% to $275 million, snacks grew 16.5% to $705 million, and beverages increased 14.9% to $609 million each.  By market, exports to the United States increased 20% to $1.44 billion, ASEAN countries at $1.72 billion (3.5% +), China at $1.37 billion (7.9% +), and Europe at $619 million (25.3% +).

Dunkin’ second “Wonders” store opened in Gangnam
https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2024120408571077635
Summary:  SPC Korea announced, on December 4^th, that a Dunkin’ Donuts store was opened in Gangnam, featuring the Dunkin’s new concept, Wonders.  Dunkin’ Donuts Gangnam is the second store following its Cheongdam store, which opened in September this year as part of the expansion of Dunkin’s premium concept of Wonders.  Wonders is a new Dukin’s project that focuses on product innovation, and Dunkin’s new concept that showcases products and categories developed through the project.  Dunkin’ Wonders Gangnam is a renewed store of the existing Dunkin’ Live store in Gangnam with the concept of Wonders, and features the basic handmade donuts and three Wonders donuts: the Wondernut, an American-size cake donut, a 32-layer pie donut similar to a croissant, and the Puff donut that has a low-sugar filling.

Homeplus hits the road with entry onto Baedal Minjok delivery platform
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-03/business/industry/Homeplus-hits-the-road-with-entry-onto-Baedal-Minjok-delivery-platform/2191611
Summary:  Homeplus, one of Korea’s hypermarket chains, has announced that it has started to deliver fresh groceries through food delivery platform “Baedal Minjok (Baemin)” from December 2^nd.  Customers have the option of placing orders for same-day delivery or for a specific time and date of their choosing.  Orders can be placed at 108 of Homeplus’ 127 branches nationwide.  Along with another hypermarket chain Emart, which started delivering goods with Baemin in November, the number of supermarkets that have joined the largest food delivery app Baemin is growing.  Emart Everyday, GS The Fresh and Homeplus Express entered the mobile app in June, July and August of last year, respectively.

Food safety information can be easily checked on mobile phones
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=110932
Summary:  The real-time food information service (Food QR), which allows consumers to easily check various food safety information on their mobile phones, will be operated from November 26^th.  The Food QR is an information delivery system that provides product identification codes, labeling and recall information for each product in real time.  Previously, there was a difficulty in labeling various product information in a limited space on the product.  However, in efforts to improve the situation, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has been promoting a pilot project for the Food QR since September 2022, where all product information can be checked through the QR code displayed on the product.  The Food QR service slowly expand to all foods, starting with domestically manufactured foods this year, expanding to imported foods in 2025 and domestic agricultural, livestock, and fishery products in 2026.  MFDS said that it will continue to promote the digital transformation of food safety management systems, such as the Food QR, to ensure a healthy and convenient dietary life for the public.

CU opens a convenience store specializing in K-food in Seoul
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=110924
Summary:  CU, a Korean convenience store chain, has opened a convenience store specializing in K-food targeting foreign tourists in Myeong-dong, Seoul.  The store focuses on K-food products such as a popular Korean chef Baek Jong-won series, marron & tiramisu and Yonsei cream bread series, and banana milk, which are recommended for foreign tourists in Korea.  On one side of the store, there is a specialized K-ramen zone with representative Korean ramen noodles.  In addition, more than 200 kinds of K-snacks, health and beauty products, and more are displayed at the store.  A CU official said that CU has opened various specialized convenience stores such as ramen library, snack library, and music library since last year, innovating a new genre of K-convenience stores.

Korea’s exports of dried seaweed hit record high in 2024
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=110936
Summary:  According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the cumulative exports of dried seaweed, which is called “gim” in Korean, from January to October this year reached $849.56 million, achieving a new record for the highest annual exports.  Korea’s exports of dried seaweed, which account for more than 70% of the global dried seaweed market, increased over seven-fold from $110 million in 2010 to $790 million in 2023.  The number of export destinations also expanded to 122 countries in 2023 from 64 in 2010.  By destination, exports to the United States amounted to $177 million, followed by Japan with $175 million, Thailand with $84 million, and Russia with $75 million.  Minister Kang, Do-hyung said in a statement that the ministry will continue to raise value added of Korean seaweed in the global market and strengthen export competitiveness, as well as support production to stabilize domestic demand.