Korea exports 10 'hanwoo' cattle to Malaysia

Kim Jung-hee, fifth from left, deputy minister for food policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, poses with ministry officials at Incheon Port, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

By Lee Kyung-min

Korea has exported 10 cattle for the production of “hanwoo,” or Korean beef, to Malaysia, a deal closed after months of government efforts to ensure the safe and close management of livestock despite the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease here in May, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.

Malaysia approved the import of the cattle on June 19, as impressed by Korea's speedy and thorough disease control response and the transparency of the country's agriculture and livestock infection authorities. The export of halal-certified premium beef-producing livestock will boost the country's share in the $1.9 billion halal market.

High-ranking ministry officials attended a ceremony to celebrate the first shipment of 10 hanwoo cattle to Malaysia at Incheon Port.

“I visited Malaysia's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security YB Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad Bin Sabu, in person, May 12, to help our Southeast Asian peer understand how Korea has been and will continue to be thorough in livestock disease control. I also stressed that the cattle prepared for export were safely managed,” Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Chung Hwang-keun told The Korea Times.

Korea reported the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at farms in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, May 10, and had since kept the Malaysian authorities updated over the development of any spread and Korea's response measures. May's outbreak came four years and four months after the last one, shortly before the export shipment planned for June. The deal came close to being scrapped altogether.

“Ministry officials and I have communicated closely and frequently with our Malaysian counterparts to help them remain assured that Korean beef is safe. First, they were concerned. But we shared all records of hanwoo manufacturing, dispelling their fears and winning their trust,” he said.

Malaysia allowed the import of three cows on June 8, on a trial basis. It then fully granted import after no irregularities were reported in the three.

Korea's approach was met with a thank-you letter whereby the Malaysian government expressed gratitude for the Korean government's information sharing, the ministry said. The two reiterated their commitment to fortifying bilateral cooperation.

The livestock will be used to introduce new hanwoo dishes at fine dining hotels and restaurants. Tasting events will be held to showcase Korean beef to Malaysian consumers who are not familiar with it.

Korea exports hanwoo cattle to four countries, including Hong Kong, Macao and Cambodia.

Korea registered $8.8 billion in exports of agricultural and livestock products last year. The all-time-high figure was a gradual increase from $6.9 billion in 2018.