SEOUL, May 10 (AJU PRESS) - Samgyetang or chicken soup with ginseng is now making its way into the European market amid the growing global popularity of Korean cuisine.
The first batch of the ready-to-eat packages, totaling approximately 8.4 tons, was exported to Germany from the southern port city of Busan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday.
After nearly three decades of negotiations with European authorities began in 1996, the export of Korea's beloved dish, known for its nutritious aspects and stamina-boosting properties, has finally materialized.
The ministry said that it took a long time to meet different safety guidelines of some 27 European countries, particularly the stringent criteria for heat-treated poultry products. Moreover, the frequent outbreaks of highly-contagious avian influenza made entering the European market difficult.
The ministry anticipates a gradual increase in exports of the processed product to the European market in the future. It also plans to introduce more Korean dishes, including dumplings and fried rice made with chicken ingredients. "We will strive to diversity exports items to reach more European countries," a ministry official said.
