S.Korea aims to export $1 bn Gim by 2027

South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to enhance the global competitiveness of Korea's seaweed industry by establishing "Gim” as the standardized international name for Korean seaweed and introducing a grading system for dried gim to enable price differentiation based on quality. 

The ministry said these initiatives on Thursday its strategies to boost the Gim industry's competitiveness and stabilize the supply.

To achieve international standardization, they are preparing a proposal to submit to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, aiming to finalize it by next year.

“Gim has often been referred to as [the Japanese term] nori or seaweed abroad," Vice Minister Song Myung-dal said. "We will promote our name, Gim, to establish it globally as K-Gim, a recognized brand."

The ministry aims to increase Gim exports to $1 billion by 2027. Last year’s exports reached $790 million, and by Sept. this year, they had already reached $770 million.

Since 2016, an additional 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) of domestic gim farms have been developed, bringing the total area to around 64,000 hectares (158,000 acres).

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to initiate pilot offshore farming. The proposed pilot sites cover 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) in Wando, Yeosu, and Sinan in South Jeolla Province.

Write to Sang-Yong Park at yourpencil@hankyung.com