Seaweed, tuna propel Korea's record marine product exports to $3 bil.
K-pop fans pose for a photo promoting Korea's seaweed at the K-Pop Festival in London, July 7. Courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and FisheriesBy Lee Kyung-minKorea's marine product exports are expected to register a record high of over 4 trillion won ($3 billion) this year, powered by the popularity of seaweed and tuna in South East Asia, the oceans ministry said Wednesday.Anchoring this optimism is the figure having exceeded the ministry's goal of $3 billion on Dec. 9. It's a much-needed feat for the export-reliant economy set to log a record-high trade deficit of $50 billion this year, the first time in 14 years for Korea. Korea Customs Service data showed the country's year-to-date trade deficit stood at $47.46 billion as of Dec. 10, more than double the $20.6 billion in 1996.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Korea's marine product exports soared 15 percent from a year earlier, buoyed by $620 million in sales of seaweed and $580 million in tuna sales. Korea has an over 70 percent market share in the global seaweed market. The export figure surpassed $100 million for the first
