Korea exports first-ever batch of samgyetang to the EU

Industry

Published: 09 May. 2024, 18:36

Korea exports first-ever batch of samgyetang to the EU

The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attends an event celebrating Korea's first export of samgyetang to European countries at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal. [NEWS1]

Korea shipped the first batch of packaged traditional chicken soup, or samgyetang, to the European Union (EU) for the first time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday.

The 8.4-ton volume of samgyetang bound for Germany departed from Busan, according to the ministry.

The batch was Korea's first export of samgyetang to the EU since quarantine negotiation between the two countries began in 1996. The talks were suspended in 1998 due to lack of food safety measures, such as a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points management system, and frequent breakouts of avian influenza in Korea at the time.

Negotiations resumed in 2013, as Korea's food safety measures evolved to meet global standards, and were completed last year.

The ministry said Korea plans to expand exports to other EU member states after Germany. The country is preparing shipments of other food products that include chicken, such as dumplings and fried rice.

“Exports of samgyetang to the EU were made possible as local farms, food businesses and the government worked closely to address complicated overseas regulations,” said the Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung.

“The government will expand communications with the industry so that not only samgyetang, but also various Korean foods, can be exported to more countries,” Song said.

Korea shipped $19.67 million worth of processed chicken products, including samgyetang, in 2023, to destinations including the United States, Japan and Hong Kong, but not to EU countries.

BY CHOI HAE-JIN, YONHAP [choi.haejin@joongang.co.kr]