South Korea aims to double the country¡¯s annual export of dried laver seaweed products to about $ 1 billion by 2024 as the side dish menu is gaining popularity among foreigners.
Dried laver seaweed, called ¡®gim¡¯ in Korean, is often roasted with sesame oil and seasoned with salt and is served as a side dish menu that goes with Korean meals. It has recently earned fame as a healthy, low-calorie snack among foreign visitors to Korea, gaining popularity abroad.
According to the report submitted to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries sets a goal to nurture the country¡¯s gim products as a next hit export item and ship $1 billion worth of gim products to overseas markets annually by 2024.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë The ministry estimated that once outbound shipments of gim products reach $1 billion, the country would see economic ripple effects of about 1 trillion won ($884 million) and fishing households would be able to earn annual income of between 300 million won and 400 million won per household.
Korea¡¯s annual gim production is estimated at around 13 billion sheets, making up nearly half of the world¡¯s total dried laver supply, according to the fisheries ministry. A sheet of gim is sized about a letter-sized paper.
The country¡¯s gim export reached $60 million in 2007 and rose sharply to $350 million last year to top both ramen (instant noodle) and ginseng exports, which recorded $290 million and 130 million, respectively.
Gim was the second-most exported food product following tobacco in the first six months of this year. Gim¡¯s outbound shipping is expected to exceed $500 million this year for the first time since the country began shipping out dried seaweed products.
By Boo Jang-won
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]