Korean food has been attracting plenty of attention not only in Korea, but also overseas as it is recognized for its health, taste, and nutrition. Here, we will introduce contemporary Korean food that is captivating the palates of people around the world.

Source. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs/Korean Food Promotion Institution <Results of Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey(2020·2021)>, Korea Customs Service Import/Export Trade Statistics(2021), Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange <Survey on Korean Wave Status Overseas(2021)>

Frequently Eaten Korean Food 
The <Results of the 2021 Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey> conducted on the residents of 16 major overseas cities show that Korean-style fried chicken(30.0%) was the most frequently eaten Korean food, followed by kimchi(27.7%), and bibimbap(27.2%). It seems that the interest in Korean food has increased due to the influence of the Korean Wave media as time spent at home was prolonged due to COVID-19. 

Image of Korean Food 
The image of Korean food lies in its flavor(taste and aroma), health benefits, and its recent recognition as a trendy food.

Kimchi, the Epitome of Korean Food

Kimchi Exports Reaching USD 144.5 million(about KRW 164 billion)
As the excellence of Korean food has been highlighted, the perception that kimchi is a healthy and beneficial food has been deeply engraved. In Hong Kong, it is a typical side dish on the table of ordinary households, and in China and Southeast Asia, not only kimchi, but also pickled cabbage and seasoning for kimchi are sold.

Korean Food Listed with UNESCO


Gimjang(Kimjang) Culture of Making and Sharing Kimchi
In 2013, our gimjang culture was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is the sixth in the category of food. Gimjang culture was listed in recognition of the fact that it gives Koreans a sense of identity and belonging as a culture, rather than being a simple traditional food.

Satisfaction with Korean Food


The <Results of the 2021 Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey> conducted on 8,500 residents of 17 major overseas cities show that the satisfaction with Korean food(94.5%) has increased 3.5%p from the previous year. Also, the interest in Korean food(70.2%) and the popularity of Korean food in the country(61.7%) also increased by 2.7%p and 2.1%p, respectively.

Factors in the Popularity of Korean Food


With the growing perception of Korean food as being healthy and delicious, the number of people visiting Korean restaurants and the number of exports of processed foods that can be enjoyed at home have increased.