Seoul: The government has initiated a task force aimed at enhancing the country's food export strategy by leveraging the global fascination with Korean culture, as stated by officials. The task force convened its inaugural session to deliberate on strategic export items by region and government backing for K-food exports this year, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions concentrated on essential food items anticipated to have high demand in international markets, including kimchi in the United States, inner beauty products and persimmons in China, Korean melon in Japan, and halal food in the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Furthermore, the task force explored the possibility of appointing K-food ambassadors to promote distinct Korean food products across various countries, as per the ministry's statement.

The ministry had previously noted that South Korea's exports of food and agriculture-related products reached a historic high of US$13.62 billion in 2025. This growth was fueled by the global popularity of Korean food products, such as "ramyeon" instant noodles, sauces, and fruits. In line with this, Seoul is aiming to expand the country's food exports to $16 billion this year.