The Ministry of Agriculture and Food of South Korea has started the export of Korean paprika to China, marking the beginning of official trade in the product to the Chinese market. The ministry aims to supply 1 to 2 tons of paprika weekly to premium distribution stores in China like BHG, Citi, and Chunbo. The export was initiated after quarantine negotiations with China in 2007, leading to a memorandum of understanding on quarantine requirements last year. The first shipment of 820 kg received positive feedback for its quality. Vice Minister Lee Jae-wook emphasized the importance of diversifying export markets to reduce reliance on Japan and to increase farmers' income, promising to maintain export competitiveness through quality control.