The crispy snacks, made from dried laver coated in glutinous rice paste and fried, revive a labor-intensive handcrafting method the company said captures the deep aroma and richness of the seaweed.
The lineup comes in original, spicy and shrimp flavors.
The launch rides a powerful export wave. South Korea's dried seaweed shipments surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2025, up 13.2 percent on-year, with the United States the top destination at $220 million.
The country supplies more than 70 percent of the global seaweed market, and gim has crossed cultural boundaries to feature in dishes from gimbap to pizza.
CJ's own seaweed business has tracked that boom, climbing at an average annual rate of about 30 percent over the past three years to reach 120 billion won ($78.1 million) in domestic revenue last year, the company said.
CJ plans to broaden its snack portfolio beyond traditional rice-side dishes and carry gim bugak overseas, starting with the United States later this year, as foreign shoppers increasingly hunt for Korean seaweed as a must-buy item.
"Spearheaded by bibigo gim bugak, we will win over Korean palates and spread the charm of traditional Korean snacks abroad, establishing ourselves as a leading K-snack player," said a CJ CheilJedang spokesperson.
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