According to a report released on Wednesday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), food exports have maintained an average annual increase of 8 percent since 2015, with a slight surge in the last five years.
Instant noodles dominated exports with $1.36 billion in sales last year, becoming the country's mainstay export item with a 20.6 percent share of the global market, followed by ready-to-eat meals, beverages, health supplements, and grocery ingredients like condiments.
The U.S. remains the top export destination for South Korean products, while exports to Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and the Philippines have grown significantly.
"The growing influence of the Korean Wave, coupled with the latest trend for health-conscious food, has fueled interest in South Korean products across American and Southeast Asian markets," said Moon Jung-hoon, a professor at Seoul National University.
He added that, amid major U.S. warehouse retail chains like Costco taking in more South Korean food items, the expansion of franchise outlets, along with enhanced local marketing efforts, has bolstered the global presence of South Korean products.
It remains uncertain how U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies will shape the global trade environment this year, but the KCCI vowed to leverage the emerging popularity of South Korean cuisine overseas to further diversify export destinations and product portfolios.
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