Latest news with #aT
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Kimchi, ginseng and halal beef: Korea's food diplomacy gets foothold in UAE
Through food fairs, Korean culture showcases in UAE, Korea deepens commercial ties across Middle Eastern markets for Korean flavors DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Welcoming a contingent of Korean food makers, an exhibition hall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, turned into a vibrant showcase of Korea's food industry Tuesday. The 2025 Dubai K-Food Fair, a two-day event held from Tuesday to Wednesday by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, or aT, brought together 30 Korean companies and 60 buyers from across the Middle East. Thirty booths lined the venue, each representing a slice of the K-food industry, with a singular purpose: To turn Korea's food culture into tangible export deals in Islamic consumer markets. Much of the focus centered on red ginseng, rice cakes, Korean beef and, perhaps needless to say, kimchi. During the fair, more than 251 tailored one-on-one meetings were conducted, culminating in seven memorandums of understanding valued at over $2 million, according to aT. At Nonghyup Red Ginseng's booth, a director surnamed Nam, fresh from a business meeting with a local buyer, said the buyer had shown keen interest in the product's reputed health benefits and skin-enhancing properties. 'We're equipped to produce halal-certified ginseng," he said. "With the UAE's strategic location, strong consumer spending and rising appreciation for Korean ginseng, it offers an ideal entry point to the broader Middle Eastern market." Roydon Dmello, CEO of Pure Heart General Trading, was among the many buyers at the event. He said that tteokbokki, Korea's spicy rice cake dish, has the most market potential. 'I think tteokbokki has strong growth potential, but if the texture were a bit softer, people would enjoy it more,' he said, adding that he also imports rabokki, a variation that includes ramyeon, which sells very well. Enthusiasm for Korean food among UAE consumers is already showing up in the numbers. As of May, Korea's food exports to the UAE had risen 40.2 percent on-year, totaling $116 million. Joo Won-chul, director general of the Food Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, pledged to adapt to shifting conditions to sustain Korean food's momentum. 'We will respond swiftly to the rapidly changing export landscape and actively address the challenges faced by exporters," he said. Change of scene, palate The event's success encapsulates a sharp shift, according to Shin Dong-chul, founder of 1004 Gourmet, a UAE-based Korean food and beauty retail company that operates five stores and supplies Korean products to more than 600 hotels and restaurants. When the first shop opened in 2008, Korean food was largely unfamiliar to local consumers. 'Back then, around 80 percent of our customers were Korean expatriates. Now, that figure has flipped, 80 percent are non-Korean,' Shin said during an interview with The Korea Herald, attributing the shift to the global rise of Korean culture and, more recently, word-of-mouth among chefs and influencers. Shin is also at the center of a growing campaign to introduce premium Korean cuisine, particularly Hanwoo to one of the world's most discerning halal markets. 'The chefs here always ask, 'Where's the Hanwoo?'" Shin said. 'They know it from visits to Korea. They remember the flavor.' Unlike Japanese Wagyu, prized for its high fat content, Hanwoo offers a more balanced profile with rich aroma, distinct flavor and a savory, firm texture, he added. Hanwoo's popularity was palpable not only at the food fair but also at its first-ever launch showcase in Abu Dhabi, hosted by aT a day earlier to introduce Korea's halal-certified Hanwoo. 'At Hanwoo's first launch event, several attendees expressed interest in importing the beef," an official from the Hapcheon Livestock Cooperative Federation said. "During the fair, one group visited a different Hanwoo booth and signed an MOU.' Korean food fervor in Dubai shows no signs of slowing, with the Dubai branch of Korea 360 — a physical space established through interagency efforts to showcase Korean content from dramas and K-pop to food, fashion and cosmetics — helping sustain the momentum. 'Since opening in April, the Dubai branch has drawn an average of 1,200 visitors on weekends and about 400 on weekdays,' said Park Young-il, director of the UAE Business Center at the Korea Creative Content Agency. Park said the venue, which will run through April next year, is expected to promote Hallyu and support Korea's broader market expansion in the Middle East.
Korea Herald
03-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
aT honored for ESG management at National Brand Awards
The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation won the grand prize Wednesday in the environmental, social and governance management category of the 2025 Korea National Brand Awards for the second consecutive year. Hosted by the New York Festivals, the annual award recognizes top performers in each category based on the National Brand Competitiveness Index, which evaluates brand awareness, identity, satisfaction, loyalty and global competitiveness. The Korean food trade agency, also known as aT, first received the ESG management award in 2024, the year the category was introduced, and has retained its top position this year. Since declaring its commitment to ESG management in 2021, the agency has implemented a range of initiatives, including the launch of Korea On-line Wholesale Produce Market to digitize agricultural distribution and the creation of the Climate Change Response Department. It has also introduced support programs such as food packages for underprivileged children and smart farm training for individuals with developmental disabilities. 'It is an honor to be selected as Korea's top national brand in ESG for a second year,' said aT President Hong Moon-pyo. 'We will continue promoting ESG initiatives that contribute to a prosperous future for farmers, fishers and rural communities.'
Korea Herald
18-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean powdered milk exports triple in Southeast Asia over decade
Korean powdered milk products have surged in popularity across Southeast Asia, with exports nearly tripling over the past decade as demand for Korean formula remains on the rise, data showed Tuesday. According to data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., or aT, powdered milk exports to the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hit a record high of $30.7 million last year, up from $10.5 million in 2014. The export volume also saw a sharp rise, reaching 2,465 metric tons last year — 2.6 times higher than the 932 tons recorded a decade ago. Among ASEAN countries, Cambodia stands out as the largest export destination, with Korean formula milk powder shipments soaring to $15.6 million last year, showing a 14-fold increase over the past decade. Korean powdered formula milk held a 3.3 percent market share in Cambodia in 2019, but by 2023, it had jumped to 14.8 percent. Over 80 percent of the powdered milk products in Cambodia come from Namyang Dairy Products, one of South Korea's largest dairy companies, which not only sells its flagship powdered milk but has also launched a product tailored to the local market. Vietnam is another key market, with its infant formula market projected to grow from 1.57 trillion won in 2023 to 2.43 trillion won by 2027, according to global market research firm Euromonitor. Korean powdered milk exports to Vietnam have risen 1.6-fold over the past decade, reaching $15 million last year. Lotte Wellfood, the confectionery arm of Lotte Group, has seen strong export growth, having introduced a Vietnam-specific formula product in 2019. The product recorded an 82 percent on-year growth in the first 10 months of 2023. An industry insider noted that, amid Korea's declining birthrate and the resulting drop in domestic infant-related sales, Korean dairy manufacturers are increasingly turning to Southeast Asia, which could serve as "a future growth engine for the powdered milk industry."
Korea Herald
17-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
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.
