Economy

Food exports boom, kimchi and ramyeon strong

Jjapaguri instant noodle that was featured in the film Parasite, which won the Oscar for Best Picture earlier this year stacked on a shelve at a discount mart in Seoul April 21. Thanks to the Korean film's popularity ramyeon export rose. [YONHAP]

Despite the coronavirus outbreak dealing a heavy blow to Korea’s exports, it turns out ramyeon, or instant noodles, and kimchi exports have been strong.

Ramyeon exports have been particularly strong following the featuring of two local products in "Parasite" (2019), which won four Oscars.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea’s agriculture exports in the first four months of the year increased 3.8 percent to $2.38 billion.

Ramyeon exports surged 34.5 percent during the same period to $194 million.

With the release and Academy Award victory of Bong Joon-ho’s instant classic, Korean ramyeon makers have been marketing aggressively in YouTube and elsewhere.

Kimchi exports were up $45.1 million, a 30.7 percent on-year increase.

The ministry said it has been actively promoting kimchi, with the product being showcased at K-food fairs held abroad.

Confectionery and snack exports increased 21.8 percent year-on-year, while sauce exports increased 24.1 percent.

Beverage exports declined 3.4 percent while alcoholic beverage exports tumbled 19.6 percent.

Exports of Korean agriculture and food products to Europe, Asean and the European Union increased. Exports of these products were particularly strong to the United States, with the total rising 35.3 percent.

Kimchi exports to the country surged 58.3 percent while ramyeon exports increased 39.2 percent, and grains surged 64.7 percent.

Exports of these products to Japan and China fell, down 2.7 percent to the former and 1.4 percent to the latter.

In these markets, kimchi and ginseng still remained popular, with exports rising. Sales of fresh produce and alcoholic beverages to these countries dropped and pulled down exports overall.

The Korean government said it plans to promote and distribute Korean agriculture and food products overseas given changes in consumption due to the pandemic.

It will expand online and mobile export consulting for overseas buyers, which it did for buyers in China last month, to other markets, including the United States, Japan and Vietnam.

“Exports of agriculture and food is facing difficulty as the Covid-19 outbreak continues in major export markets including Japan,” said Park Byung-hong, director-general on food industry policy at the Agriculture Ministry. “We will support exports of agriculture and food products by finding promising products such as health foods.”

BY IM SOUNG-BIN [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]