The South Korean government is marshaling resources to elevate the country’s cuisine into a major strategic export industry, aiming to harness the global popularity of Korean culture to push food products deep into international supply chains.
President Lee Jae-myung, in a policy speech delivered Tuesday, framed “K-food” as a potential growth engine for the national economy, extending beyond the domestic market. “K-food must continue to grow beyond the domestic market and establish itself as a strategic export industry,” Lee said in a congratulatory message read by Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung at a launch event in Seoul. “I hope K-food, as a leading symbol of K-culture, will reach even more consumers around the world.”
The government announced the formal launch of a K-Food Export Planning Task Force, expressing confidence it would devise effective strategies to accelerate overseas expansion. Central to the plan is an ambitious target: boosting annual K-food exports to $21 billion by 2030, from approximately $8.6 billion in 2023, positioning the sector as a globally competitive strategic industry.
The newly formed public-private task force, chaired by the agriculture minister, will be charged with identifying next-generation export items and crafting region-specific market-entry strategies. Its 35 appointed private-sector members span five critical areas: export firms; culture, tourism and content; halal and overseas certification; logistics and distribution; and tackling tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. The structure signals a recognition that exporting food requires navigating complex regulatory, cultural and logistical landscapes.
The event also served to spotlight current export successes. The “K-Food Plus Export Tower Awards” recognized 36 companies. Top honors went to Samyang Foods, famed for its “Buldak” spicy ramen, marking its third consecutive award, and to health-supplement maker Novarex, which won its first award after surpassing $100 million in exports. Other awardees included Maeil Dairies, which exports halal-certified coffee beverages and infant formula to markets including the U.S., China and Southeast Asia.
The push reflects a strategic pivot to systematically commercialize the global curiosity sparked by Korean pop culture, turning episodic consumer interest into sustained demand for a broader range of Korean food products.
