South Korea has seen a significant increase in food exports to countries under its 'New Northern' policy, which includes Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asia, Mongolia, and part of China. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) reported a 44.3% rise in food exports to these countries, reaching $129.3 million as of May, the highest since 2018. The increase was led by processed foods, with beverages, boodles, and confectionery seeing the greatest rise. Despite this, South Korea also plans to increase its food trade in South East Asia, particularly with the Philippines, where negotiations have led to the approval of South Korean strawberries.