Gov't to help fuel overseas demand for Korean foods, beverages

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- The government said Monday it will support domestic
growth and encourage the export of Korean foods and beverages that can help local
farmers and food-related businesses while raising the country's image overseas.
The special Korean cuisine globalization support group made up of government
officials, entrepreneurs and scholars said in its inaugural gathering in Seoul
that Korean cuisine remains relatively unknown outside the country, but has good
growth potential.
Korean food and beverages, with their long and distinctive tradition, have
gradually gained recognition for their flavor and nutritional benefits, but have
yet to gain as much popularity as Chinese, Japanese and Italian food.
At the event attended by first lady Kim Yoon-ok, the Ministry for Food,
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it aims to put bibimbap, topokki, kimchi
and traditional grain-based wine on internationally recognized menus.
Bibimbap is a steamed rice dish mixed with assorted vegetable and meat, while
topokki is a spicy snack made up of tube-shaped rice cakes and chili sauce.
Kimchi is a fermented side dish made from cabbage, cucumber and radishes that is
eaten with almost every traditional meal.
Both kimchi and grain-based wines like makgulli have steadily gained a share of
the market in countries like Japan.
"Research is already underway to develop kimchi that can better attract the
palates of foreigners, with talks being carried out to export bibimbap and
topokki through restaurant chains," an official said.
He said support will be given to improve the quality control of makgulli and
other traditional liquors and their raise value by making more high-end products.
The farm ministry, which will be charged with fueling growth, said it will push
forward policies that can help Korean cuisine become globally competitive.
It said efforts are underway to change laws to help local eateries and master
chefs, boost culinary courses, and get top-class hotels to operate more Korean
restaurants.
Policymakers added that more funds will be allocated for research and
development, upgrading food materials industries, and helping improve the image
of Korean food.
Such policies are designed to rectify some of the shortcomings cited by both
local and foreign experts. Korean cooking methods have been criticized for having
no systematic recipes that can be easily followed. In addition, inadequate
efforts to modify tastes to meet foreign demands and the excessive number of side
dishes and soups have hurt efforts to win more international customers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it is in the process
of creating tours focused on Korean traditional food, with plans being created to
use overseas cultural offices and Korea Plaza, operated by the Korea National
Tourism Organization (KNTO), to advertise traditional food.
The Knowledge Economy ministry, in charge of the country's industrial policies,
said it will help extend export insurance coverage to companies that want to
export food and beverages abroad, and will use its expertise in the manufacturing
and service sector support to assist food processing and companies.
It added that local food companies may be allowed to use logistics operated by
the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency to store food ingredients that can
enhance the competitiveness of those companies.
The foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it will help by serving Korean food at
official gatherings hosted at diplomatic missions.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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