K-food export strategy items: Kimchi for the US, Korean melons for Japan, and what for Europe?

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) held the first K-food Export Planning Group meeting of the year at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on the 4th to discuss export strategy items by region. The proposed strategic items were kimchi for the United States, inner beauty products and sweet persimmons for China, Korean melons for Japan, halal-certified products for the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and vegan products for Europe.
The meeting brought together seven officials each from relevant ministries and related agencies, along with private-sector members from the export, content, and logistics industries, for a total of 29 participants. They discussed three main agenda items: the list of strategic items by region, the selection and operation plan for K-food ambassadors, and each ministry’s K-food export support plan for 2026. The government gathered a wide range of views from on-site experts in areas such as exporting companies, culture, tourism, content, logistics, and tariff and non-tariff barriers related to K-food exports.
The proposal for strategic items by region aims to expand the overall scale of K-food exports and diversify both export items and market portfolios. After collecting advance opinions from private-sector members, around three strategic items were suggested for each region. Selection criteria included recent export trends, local market conditions, product competitiveness, and growth potential. Reflecting government policy priorities, traditional Korean alcoholic beverages and items that have cleared quarantine procedures within the past five years were also included.
Plans for selecting and operating K-food ambassadors were also discussed. These ambassadors will be chosen based on recommendations from overseas diplomatic missions that serve as export hubs, suggestions from exporting companies, and input from private experts. The government outlined procedures and methods for selecting key influencers in each region, as well as their main online and offline activities, including attending promotional events and appearing in or creating promotional content.
This year’s main K-food export support measures include initiatives led by MAFRA in cooperation with other ministries: utilizing overseas diplomatic missions as export hubs, marketing linked to the Korean Wave, establishing overseas cold-chain logistics centers, responding to the distribution of counterfeit products, and supporting companies in obtaining foreign certifications.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will promote K-food in connection with its public diplomacy programs. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will handle export voucher programs and the establishment of smart factories for food manufacturers. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will provide information on foreign regulations and strengthen global regulatory cooperation, while the Intellectual Property Office will develop anti-counterfeiting and identification technologies. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) will work on creating dedicated HS code (Harmonized System code) categories for major K-food items.
Vice Minister Kim Jong-gu of MAFRA stated, "This meeting was an opportunity for the public and private sectors to jointly discuss detailed implementation plans for each ministry and agency to ensure the practical execution of the K-food export strategy." He added, "Through the K-food one-stop export support hub established by MAFRA and related ministries, we must quickly resolve the difficulties faced by exporting companies and ensure that each ministry’s export support programs are organically linked and implemented so that demand-driven results can be clearly felt in the field."

junjun@fnnews.com Choi Yong-jun Reporter