I fell in love with the chewy taste!Export of 'K-Desserts' gaining momentum

[Anchor]
Originally, there was a strong perception that foreigners were unfamiliar with rice cakes because of their chewy texture.

It is said that the atmosphere has changed to the extent that so-called honey rice cake 'mukbang' is popular now.

Related exports are also growing as "K-desserts" such as yakgwa and sikhye, including rice cakes, are gaining popularity due to the influence of Hallyu contents.

Reporter Hwang Bo Hye-kyung on the report.

[Reporter]
It is a 100-year-old rice cake shop in Insa-dong, Seoul.

Those who taste honey rice cakes filled with mouth are none other than foreign tourists.

[Olaf / Australian tourist] That's wonderful. It's really traditional. It's hard to find in Melbourne, but it's nice to be able to see it like this in Korea.]

[Natasha / Australian tourist: It's different from Australian desserts, but it's really delicious. The different texture is surprisingly attractive.]

Rice cakes that were divided between likes and dislikes due to the unfamiliar texture of foreigners.

Tteokbokki is known overseas, and unlike before, more and more people enjoy rice cakes as they enjoy the chewy texture.

Recently, on social media, 'eating shows' where milk is poured into honey rice cakes and eaten like cereal are popular.

Sweet yakgwa and thin ice-flavored sikhye are also attracting foreigners.

[Marjorie / Filipino nationality: I drink sikhye every summer, and it feels fresh and cool.]

As Korean food is attracting attention for K-contents such as dramas and movies, exports related to K-dessert are also good.

Until October this year, exports of rice-processed foods such as rice cakes and rice snacks amounted to 250 million dollars and 350 billion won in our money, up more than 40% from the same period last year.

During the same period, exports of snacks and drinks also jumped more than 10% from last year.

[Daniela / Ecuadorian importer: Due to the popularity of the Korean Wave, Ecuadorians are looking for fish-shaped buns or hot dogs]

The government is also actively promoting Korean Wave content.

[Cho Jung-hee / Head of Agri-Food Business Division, Korea Agri-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation: Previously, exports were mainly made to the items we promote, but now, with the development of OTT, buyers are looking for K-desserts such as yakgwa and bungeoppang in dramas.]

Just as seaweed, once called "black paper" and not well received, has become a preferred snack for foreigners, attention is focusing on whether Korean desserts such as rice cakes will become an emerging powerhouse in K-food this time.

I'm YTN Hwang Bo Hye-kyung.



Filmmaker: Kim Jung-won

Design: Lee Na-young