Korean 'makgeolli' rice wine exports surge in 2009

SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- Exports of traditional Korean rice wine surged 41.9
percent on-year in 2009 due to steady overseas demand for the beverage, a
government report said Thursday.

Outbound shipments of the "makgeolli" wine reached a record US$6.30 million the
finance ministry said. It added the rise made the alcoholic beverage the fastest
growing export item among local agricultural and food products last year.
Makgeolli exports grew 16.0 percent in 2007 and shot up to 52.2 percent in 2008
thanks to strong consumer demand in Japan, although in terms of total volume
makgeolli exports stood at just 20 percent of those of soju, a distilled drink
made from rice and starches such as sweet potato.
The ministry, meanwhile, said the country's overall agricultural exports rose 5.1
percent from a year ago to $4.57 billion or 1.3 percent of the $363.50 billion
worth of goods exported by the entire country. South Korea's trade deficit in the
agriculture, fisheries and food sectors reached $15.20 billion which marks a
slight decrease from $20.20 billion reached in 2008.
In terms of imports, farm goods totaled $19.81 billion or 6.1 percent of $323.10
billion worth of products brought into the country last year.
Other farm-based products whose exports rose sharply included cigarettes, and
fishe