Gim exports hit record 1.032 trillion won as K-culture continues global rise

Economy

Published: 05 Feb. 2024, 10:41

Gim exports hit record 1.032 trillion won as K-culture continues global rise

Packages of flavored gim are displayed on a stall at a supermarket in Seoul last November. [YONHAP]

Korea's exports of gim, or dried seaweed, totaled 1.032 trillion won ($771 million) last year, marking a record high.

Yearly exports of flavored and dried gim were up 22.2 percent compared to 2022, the Korea Customs Service said Friday.

According to the customs authority, gim was shipped and sold to more than 120 countries worldwide, including Japan, China and Thailand.

Shipments to the U.S. was the largest, accounting for $169 million.

Japan and China followed with $144 million and $97 million worth of gim imports, respectively.

Exports to Thailand and Russia — the fourth and fifth largest importers — spiked last year. Thailand bought $66 million worth of gim and Russia imported $57 million.

South Jeolla was the country’s top exporting locality. Its exports were $250 million, making up 31.5 percent of all nationwide exports. South Chungcheong ranked second, recording $180 million.

Woo Young-woo holds a tray with gimbap in a poster for “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022). [ENA, JOONGANG PHOTO]

Skyrocketing sales of gim overseas can be attributed in part to the growing popularity of K-dramas worldwide.

The Korean drama series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022) showed multiple scenes of lead actor Woo Young-woo enjoying gimbap, a rice roll wrapped in seaweed.

Frozen gimbap, which can be microwaved, has become a viral dish in the U.S.

A screen cpaptured image shows a frozen gimbap that is available at Trader Joe's in the U.S. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Ko Kwang-hyo, a commissioner of the customs authority, on Friday visited an industrial complex dedicated to seafood and marine products in Mokpo, South Jeolla.

“The authority will nurture and boost Korean gim’s competencies overseas and put an effort so that such exports could contribute to the growth of local economies [of exporting communities],” Ko said.

BY LEE HAY-JUNE [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]