(Overall Food & Culinary Industry) In 2017, the market size of food and culinary industry was KRW 218 trillion and continuing gradual growth (Annual average growth rate 7.3% in 2007 - 2017)
The number of employees in the food and culinary industry is 2.33 million (2017), which is 11% the total number of employees and up 13.6% from the number of employees in 2012.
In the total ingredients used by food manufacturers, the proportion of domestic produce is somewhat stagnant at 31.4%, but the usage of domestic agricultural produce is in upturn trend each year.
* Usage of Domestic Produce by Food Manufacturers (10,000 tons): (2012) 448 → (2014) 489 → (2016) 519 → (2017) 538
(Fermented & Traditional Food) Commercial kimchi market is growing and consumer basis for traditional liquor is increasing
With acceleration of the industrialization of kimchi, the kimchi production in 2017 rose by 28% from 2011 to KRW 1.2816 trillion. Also, the exports are up, powered by domestic kimchi sales support. * Kimchi Production Amount: (2011) KRW 1,006 billion → (2013) 1,101 → (2015) 1,094 → (2016) 1,181 → (2017) 1,282 * Exporting Performance of Domestic Kimchi (2018): USD 97 million (Up 20% YoY)
Online sales permission on traditional liquor have resolved difficulties in finding sales channels and are facilitating specialty pubs. * Onlline Sales Amount: (2016) KRW (100 million) → (2017) 21 → (2018) 61 / Traditional Liquor Manufacturing Permit: (2016) 872 cases → (2017) 943
(Culinary) Increased jobs to youths, reduced costs for businesses and increased exports of food ingredients
Employment and start-up supports to overseas Korean cuisine interns and culinary startup incubating project, and reduced business cost through group purchase of food ingredients
Increased exports of food ingredients from overseas Korean restaurant consultative groups
(Export) Exports of fresh agricultural goods renewed the historic peak at USD 1.28 billion, and the agricultural food exports in 2018 reached USD 6.93 billion, up by 1.5% YoY (Up 7.7% without cigarette)
* Following the imposition of the sin tax for cigarette (100%) in UAE, the exports of cigarettes decreased by USD 330 million YoY (△29.6%)
The exports of major agricultural goods showed an overall increase, and influenced by the Hallyu and K-fresh zone, the fresh produce exports to ASEAN countries reached USD 200 million, up 42% YoY
(National Food Cluster) Since strengthening supports to subject enterprises by establishing corporate support centers and food R&D belt, more enterprises were attracted, and new jobs were created
* No. of Enterprises in National Food Cluster (No.): (2015) 6 → (2016) 24 → (2017) 50 → (2018) 75 * No. of Employees in National Food Cluster (Persons): (2017) 139 → (2018) 237 → (2019p) 270
