The growth in South Korea’s food exports is slowing overall because of a general global economic downturn and a significant decrease in shipments to Japan because of a weakening of the Japanese yen. However, shipments to Southeast Asian countries are growing steadily in part because of the popularity in the region of South Korean pop culture. In 2013 shipments from South Korea to the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) increased 19% year on year to US$985.4 million and over the past five years have increased by an average 32%. The ASEAN region is quickly becoming a major global agricultural market. Between 2010 and 2013 the 10 ASEAN nations posted an average economic growth of 5.8% – 2% – 3% higher than developed nations over the same time period. South Korea is also working to advance domestic production of halal foods targeting the ASEAN’s large Muslim population which equals 220 million in Indonesia alone.
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