Business · Trade · 18 hrs ago
Western South Korean towns expand farm and food exports to global markets
Local governments in western South Korea are widening food exports to reach buyers beyond nearby countries.
Hadong County opened a permanent tea promotion and sales center in Manhattan, New York, to market its green, black and other teas.
Towns and counties are also pursuing overseas sales of strawberries, rice, frozen kimbap, seafood, citrus products, apples and herbal foods.
They have joined trade events, held meetings with foreign buyers and worked with large retailers in North America and Europe.
The shift targets larger, higher-purchasing-power markets after distance, shipping costs and limited local market knowledge had constrained exports.
Officials hope steady overseas partnerships will turn interest in Korean food into higher incomes for local farms and support small exporters.
Hadong County says it will continue administrative support to strengthen local producers’ ability to compete globally.
Local governments in western South Gyeongsang Province are expanding exports of agricultural, food and seafood products to markets in North America and Europe.
The efforts include opening a promotional and sales center for Hadong tea in Manhattan and arranging export deals with overseas buyers.
Products being promoted include strawberries, rice, frozen kimbap, seafood, citrus products, apples and medicinal-herb foods.
The local governments aim to build lasting partnerships with foreign distributors and connect the global popularity of Korean food to higher farm incomes.
They say broader overseas markets can help address limits in domestic demand and the challenges of distance and shipping costs.
- Who
- Local governments in western South Gyeongsang Province, including Hadong, Jinju, Hamyang, Sacheon, Namhae, Geochang and Sancheong.
- What
- They are expanding overseas sales of local farm, food and seafood products through promotional events, buyer meetings and distribution partnerships.
- When
- During 2026, with activities reported from March through November.
- Where
- Western South Gyeongsang Province, with target markets and events in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.
- Why
- To diversify exports beyond nearby countries, reach larger markets and increase local farm incomes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hadong County began building cooperation with a local distributor through a memorandum of understanding.
Hadong County signed export agreements with a major North American distributor for products including fresh strawberries, Seomjin River rice and frozen kimbap.
Jinju promoted fresh produce in Los Angeles, Hamyang held an overseas-buyer export consultation, and Namhae held a special sales event for seafood and citron products.
Geochang secured buyer contracts for apple juice and processed products, while Sancheong held export consultations with US and European buyers.
Hadong officially opened a tea culture center in Manhattan as a permanent promotional and sales base.
- Hadong tea center
- Opened in Manhattan in early November 2026
- Hadong partnership
- Memorandum of understanding with a local distributor began in April 2024
- Jinju promotion
- Fresh produce promoted at a Los Angeles Korean festival and special sales events in April
- Namhae products
- Anchovy products, citron syrup and citron sauces shipped to Korean distribution networks in the eastern United States in June
- Sacheon exports
- Seafood and processed seafood secured placement in large North American supermarkets
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What people are saying
To overcome the population decline crisis in rural and fishing communities and the domestic market slowdown, diversifying markets through long-distance overseas exports is essential.
We will provide full administrative support and strengthen the global competitiveness of local farms and small and medium-sized export businesses.