On June 4, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries unveiled its "Seaweed Export Supply Chain Innovation Plan" during a meeting of the Task Force on Living Costs, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol.
Seaweed, a key export item in the K-seafood sector, achieved $11.3 billion in exports last year, with demand projected to reach 210 million packs (one pack equals 100 sheets) by 2030.
Currently, domestic production of dried seaweed stands at an average of 15 million packs annually. If production does not increase, the country may face shortages and rising export prices. In response, the Ministry established a "Seaweed Export Supply Chain Innovation Task Force" in January, led by Fisheries Policy Director Choi Hyun-ho, to devise strategies.
To stabilize production, the government plans to expand seaweed farming areas. It will explore phased expansion of offshore farming in waters deeper than 35 meters after conducting trials, and it aims to establish land-based farming systems to produce seaweed outside of the ocean.
A ministry official stated, "We will develop new varieties that are resilient to high temperatures and land-based farming technologies by 2030 to secure stable production amid climate change. We will also include dried seaweed in our stockpiling efforts and provide low-interest loans to the private sector to minimize supply instability and price volatility."
In addition to increasing production, the government will also revamp processing and distribution systems. AI will be introduced into the seaweed processing stages to promote automation. In the first phase, the government will distribute equipment for foreign matter inspection and automatic packaging, and it plans to increase the number of smart seaweed factories in collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by 2030. Ultimately, it aims to achieve full automation for companies building smart factories through the development of physical AI technology.
Furthermore, a "K-Seaweed Smart Processing Hub" will be established to consolidate research, industry, technology, and facilities in one location.
The government will also enhance storage capabilities for dried seaweed, aiming to increase storage facilities to hold about 30% of annual production by 2028. Given that 77% of domestic dried seaweed is produced in Jeollanam-do, the government plans to expand the Naju Distribution Center and construct new distribution centers in Jeollanam-do and the central region.
Finally, the government is pursuing the establishment of a specialized agency to oversee the seaweed industry. Since April, the Ministry has been conducting a feasibility study for this agency, which will last for one year.
To increase the export share of seasoned seaweed to 60%, the government will also enhance tailored support for export companies and accelerate branding efforts for the English name of Korean seaweed, "GIM."
Through this innovation plan, the Ministry expects to produce over 18 million packs of seaweed annually by 2030. Additionally, it aims to achieve $4.2 billion in seafood exports and $1.8 billion in seaweed exports by 2028.
Minister Hwang Jong-woo stated, "Through the Seaweed Export Supply Chain Innovation Plan, we will ensure stable seaweed supply and demand management while advancing the industry. We aim to stabilize seaweed prices so that consumers can enjoy it without burden and further solidify the status of our seaweed in the global market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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