Why a global Korean craze is making seaweed more expensive

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete February 5, 2026 at 12:01 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

South Korea, the world's largest producer and exporter of "gim" (dried seaweed), is experiencing rising prices of this staple food due to increased global demand. The growing popularity of Korean culture, including K-pop and K-dramas, has fueled international interest in Korean cuisine, driving up gim exports to a record $1.13 billion in 2023. Consequently, the price of gim in South Korea has surged, with individual sheets reaching record highs. This price increase is concerning local consumers who have long considered gim an affordable snack. Some are now reconsidering their purchasing habits due to the higher cost.

Keywords

gim 100% dried seaweed 90% south korea 80% price increase 70% exports 60% korean cuisine 60% global popularity 50% k-pop 40% k-dramas 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
Score: -0.10

Source Transparency

Source
BBC News - World
Political Lean
Center (0.00)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
South Korea

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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