Pungent pride? Hongeo eyes global reach
Fermented skate, Korea's pungent delicacy known as hongeo, may soon be designated as a traditional seafood product, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Monday.
According to the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service under the ministry, research has determined that fermented skate meets the criteria for designation as a traditional seafood product. Once the final review is complete, it will join the official roster.
The designation would open doors for fermented skate in international markets, with government support for overseas promotion.
Often cited as one of Korean most formidable culinary challenges, fermented skate puts even the most adventurous palates to the test. While its intense ammonia-like aroma can be overwhelming for many, this bold delicacy continues to reign as a cherished specialty of the southwestern region.
The ministry has also commissioned research to establish standards for designating other seafood dishes, including seaweed soup, or miyeokguk, dried seaweed, pickled abalone, parboiled conch and soy sauce-marinated shrimp, as traditional seafood products.
Under the Seafood Industry Promotion and Support Act, a seafood item must use domestically sourced seafood as its main ingredient and follow traditional preparation methods that preserve Korea's distinctive flavors and aromas to qualify for the designation.
To date, 44 seafood items have received this recognition, including 22 varieties of salted seafood. Traditional designation grants these products priority in government purchases while unlocking support for international market expansion.
Companies handling traditional seafood products also gain advantages when participating in programs led by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., known as aT, which supports brand development, overseas marketing and export assistance.
An aT official emphasized the government's commitment to promoting the export of traditional Korean seafood products certified for quality and safety.
Traditional seafood status also paves the way for "K-Fish" certification by the Korea Fisheries Association. K-Fish, the Oceans Ministry's integrated export brand since 2017, aims to boost global recognition of Korean seafood and expand market reach.
"We support K-Fish certification of traditional seafood to boost promotion and marketing to overseas buyers," a ministry official said.
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