ID :
116432
Tue, 04/13/2010 - 13:49
Auther :

S. Korea sees surge in pork belly imports


SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's spring imports of pork belly surged
last year on the back of the popular belief that it helps eliminate harmful
substances caused by yellow dust storms, a government report said Tuesday.
According to the report by the Korea Customs Service, imports of pork belly in
the March-May period last year amounted to 26,482 tons, accounting for 29.0
percent of the total yearly imports. The figure represented a 36.6 percent rise
quarter-on-quarter.
The ratio of pork belly imports during the spring season jumped from 23.7 percent
in 2006 to the peak of 29.2 percent in 2008.
Known as "samgyeopsal" in Korean, meaning three-layer meat, pork belly is one of
the most popular pork parts in the country. The bacon-like slices of the meat are
often served grilled.
The trend is attributed to the public notion that samgyeopsal helps the body rid
itself of chemical toxins and other industrial waste from yellow dust storms, the
report said. South Korea experiences hazardous yellow dust in spring, caused by
China's industrialization and deforestation.
The government campaign to promote the pork part also boosted consumption,
according to the report.
Chile became the largest frozen pork belly exporter to South Korea, accounting
for 27 percent of the nation's total imports, followed by Austria and the
Netherlands. As for chilled pork belly, Canada ranked as the top exporting
country with a shares of more than 50 percent, the report said.
Total amount of South Korea's pork imports, including pork bellies, had declined
for the past two years, bucking the upward trend in the 2005-2007 period.
"The decrease is due largely to slackened demand amid the onset of the type-A
influenza and a public preference for beef after concerns over cases of mad cow
disease were dispelled," Oh Hyun-jin, an official at the customs office said.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)

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