Seoul: South Korea’s kimchi exports set a new record in 2023, data showed on Sunday, as Korean entertainment content grows in popularity around the world.
International shipments of kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish usually made from fermented cabbage, rose 7.1% to 44,041 tons, according to data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.
The latest figure surpasses the previous record set in 2021, when exports reached 42,544 tonnes.
In value terms, exports in 2023 amounted to USD 155.6 million, an increase of 10.5% compared to the previous year.
Yonhap News reported that an Agriculture Ministry official said, “Kimchi exports increased significantly last year, mainly due to the growing popularity of K-content.”
According to the data, Japan was the top destination for kimchi exports last year with 20,173 tons, followed by the United States with 10,660 tons and the Netherlands with 1,756 tons.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s kimchi imports amounted to $163.5 million in 2023, down 3.4% from the previous year, resulting in a trade deficit of $7.95 million.
It reported that the country mainly imports kimchi from China due to high production costs in the domestic market. – Bernama