K-Food Exports to Exceed $8.4 Billion in 2025, Driven by Ramen and Seaweed

K-Food Exports to Exceed $8.4 Billion in 2025, Driven by Ramen and Seaweed

K-Food exports have shown remarkable growth in 2025, exceeding $8.4 billion. Ramen and seaweed are playing a leading role in driving export growth, enhancing the status of K-Food. According to the latest data from the Korea Customs Service, K-Food exports totaled $8.48 billion as of September 2025, an increase of 8.9% compared to the same period last year. This remarkable achievement demonstrates K-Food's continued export growth for nine consecutive years since 2016.

Processed food exports amounted to $5.2 billion, a 6.7% increase year-on-year. Ramen exports surged by 24.5% to $1.13 billion, while seaweed exports also recorded a growth rate of 14.0%, reaching $880 million. The increase in K-Food exports is having a positive impact on the South Korean economy and is expected to contribute to revitalizing the rural economy. The government plans to implement various support policies to further expand this trend. The continued growth of K-Food is attributed to the Korean Wave and the fact that it has captured the taste buds of people around the world. The growth potential of K-Food is expected to remain very high.

United States, China, Japan… Key Export Markets for K-Food

The main export markets for K-Food are the United States, China, and Japan. K-Food exports to the United States accounted for the largest share at $1.6 billion, while exports to China increased by 12.5% to $1.5 billion. Exports to Japan increased by 6.7% to $1.16 billion. Exports to these three countries accounted for 50.2% of total exports, proving that they are major markets for K-Food. In particular, 9 out of the top 10 export countries are APEC member states, with exports to APEC countries accounting for 81.5% of total exports. This suggests that APEC is a very important region for K-Food exports. The government plans to strengthen cooperation with APEC member states and promote various projects to expand K-Food exports. In addition, it will seek to diversify exports to various regions such as Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East to open up new markets. This is expected to strengthen the global competitiveness of K-Food and lay the foundation for continued growth. In particular, the European market, where interest in K-Food has been growing recently, is expected to become a new growth engine.

Government to Accelerate K-Food Promotion in Conjunction with APEC Summit

The government plans to use the upcoming Gyeongju APEC Summit, to be held in South Korea, as an excellent opportunity to promote K-Food and actively engage in promotional activities. To this end, the government has selected 29 organizations and companies as official K-Food sponsors and plans to hold various K-Food promotional events during the APEC Summit. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will focus all their efforts on promoting K-Food from October 29 to November 1, 2025, in conjunction with the APEC Summit. In particular, as the APEC Summit will be attended by leaders and key figures from APEC member states, it is expected to be a good opportunity to promote K-Food to the world. The government plans to promote the excellence of K-Food through this promotional activity and lay the foundation for expanding exports. In addition, President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea will directly participate in K-Food promotion during the APEC Summit to actively promote the appeal of K-Food. This is expected to enhance the image of K-Food and strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.

K-Food, a New Engine for South Korea's Economic Growth

The increase in K-Food exports is acting as a new engine for South Korea's economic growth, beyond simply increasing food exports. In particular, the increase in exports of processed foods such as ramen and seaweed is contributing to revitalizing the rural economy and promoting the development of related industries. The government plans to promote various support policies to ensure the continued growth of K-Food, including expanding investment in research and development, improving quality, and strengthening overseas marketing. In addition, it will actively support the opening of new markets to diversify K-Food export markets and encourage the development of products that suit the tastes of overseas consumers. This is expected to strengthen the global competitiveness of K-Food and lay the foundation for continued growth. In particular, as interest in health has been increasing recently, K-Food's healthy image is being highlighted, which is having a positive impact on the increase in K-Food exports. The government plans to leverage this trend to further strengthen the healthy image of K-Food and support the development of high value-added products. Through this, we will do our best to foster K-Food as a representative export product of South Korea and contribute to economic growth.