Jeonnam-Gwangju Seafood Processed-Product Production Value Reaches Record 2.6397 Trillion Won Last Year

【Financial News Jeonnam-Gwangju = Hwang Tae-jong, Reporter】 Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City) announced on the 7th that its seafood processed-product production value totaled 2.6397 trillion won last year, up 181.5 billion won, or 7.4%, from 2.4582 trillion won the previous year, marking an all-time high.
In particular, the city accounted for 29.8% of South Korea’s total seafood processed-product production value of 8.867 trillion won, maintaining the top spot nationwide for six consecutive years since recording 1.5235 trillion won in 2020.
According to Gwangju Metropolitan City, processed laver products drove the increase in total production value. Dried laver reached 1.2413 trillion won, up 203.1 billion won, or 20%, from the previous year, while seasoned laver totaled 564.8 billion won, an increase of 116.3 billion won, or 26%. The combined increase in production value for dried and seasoned laver was 319.4 billion won, offsetting declines in some products, including sea mustard, squid and kelp, and driving the overall increase.
Although total seafood processed-product output fell 1% year on year to 233,000 tons due in part to high water temperatures, total production value reached a record high, supported by increased production value for processed laver products.
Son Yeong-gon, head of Gwangju Metropolitan City’s Fisheries Distribution and Processing Division, analyzed the results, saying, "Despite difficult conditions, including high water temperatures, the production value of the region’s seafood processed products reached an all-time high, led by laver."
Other major products included croaker at 198.4 billion won, sea mustard at 95.8 billion won and tuna at 86.8 billion won.
By region, Mokpo recorded the highest production value at 544.1 billion won, or 21%, followed by Haenam County at 457.7 billion won, or 17%, and Goheung County at 340.9 billion won, or 13%. In terms of output, Goheung County ranked first with 68,000 tons, or 29%, followed by Mokpo with 34,000 tons, or 15%, and Wando with 24,000 tons, or 10%.
Son Yeong-gon, head of the Fisheries Distribution and Processing Division, stated, "To extend the growth of K-laver across the broader seafood sector, we will continue expanding infrastructure for processing, logistics and exports, including the development of a seafood export complex, the construction of a large-scale logistics complex and the expansion of seafood production-area processing facilities."

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