SEOUL, KOREA- The Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. (aT) said on June 30 the volume of Korean food exported to the ASEAN region for the five-month period between January and May was US$546.3 million, 9 percent more than that to China ($500.8 million).

 

An aT official said, "Last year the food export amount to ASEAN was $1,192.8 million, ranking third after Japan and China. But this year it is highly likely ASEAN will overtake China and take the second position."

 

The single item that contributed most to a rise in exports to ASEAN was tuna. For the five months this year, the tuna export volume increased 28.3 percent to $90.1 million. The volume of processed coffee also rose 34.1 percent to $33.0 million. Other items such as non-dairy creamer, dried laver (seaweed), drinks, and ramen.

 

Food industry officials said the popularity of Korean foods in Southeast Asia has much to do with the Korean Wave. While the popularity of Korean songs and dramas has cooled markedly in China, that in Southeast Asia is still going strong. For example, young fans in Thailand or Vietnam consciously buy food items that their Korean idol stars eat in TV programs.