Thanks to the increase in demand for tteokbokki, South Korea's tteok exports have reached an all-time high.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 29th, last year's tteok export value recorded $91.4 million (approximately 131.3 billion won), a 17.5% increase compared to the previous year.
The export value of tteok has tripled over five years, having recorded $34.3 million in 2019, prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transfer.
The main export country is the United States, with an export value of $34 million (37%). Following are the Netherlands ($8 million), Vietnam ($6.7 million), Japan ($4.3 million), and Canada ($3.3 million).
A major factor contributing to the increase in tteok exports is the rising demand for tteokbokki. Previously, aT mentioned in the 2021 processed food market segment report that BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) member Jimin enjoying tteokbokki had become a topic of interest among international fans in 2019.
In addition, the sale of tteok in major retail outlets such as Costco and Walmart, as well as the introduction of honey tteok cereal, which involves pouring milk over honey tteok by overseas influencers, has also influenced this trend.