Imported processed foods, processed fruits, and vegetables are leading in consumption in South Korea, followed by kimchi and beer

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea has released a report detailing the dynamics of processed food imports in the country for the year 2020. The report highlights a mixed trend across different categories. While processed fruits and vegetables were the most imported food category, ranking first, there was a notable decrease in the imports of kimchi and beer. Kimchi imports, predominantly from China, fell by 8.3% due to reduced restaurant meals and social outings amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Beer imports, largely from Japan, also saw a significant drop of 22.8%, with domestic beer gaining preference. On the other hand, fruit wines imports surged by 30.4% as consumer preferences diversified and people enjoyed alcohol at home. Coffee imports, while not leading the list, showed consistency with a slight increase attributed to the rise in coffee consumption and the demand for coffee beans for local production. Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia were the top contributing countries to these imports.