Irish beef was officially launched into the Korean market today (Friday, September 6) by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and Minister of State with responsibility for new market development, Martin Heydon.
Access to the Korean market for Irish beef was initially secured back in May 2024.
Speaking during a major agri-food trade mission to China and Republic of Korea, Minister McConalogue, said he was delighted to formally launch “our top-class beef into the Korean market here today from Deoksugung Palace in Seoul”.
Statistics suggest that the 50 million-strong population of South Korea eat the most meat per capita compared to any other in Asia, and there is a growing demand for beef, which is seen has having heath benefits, especially in terms of protein.
South Koreans now eat more meat than rice, with one industry expert explaining during the latest Irish trade mission that this state of affairs would have been “unimaginable” during his youth.
He also pointed to the significant difference in height between the average Korean youth and their parents, due to the increase protein consumption.
However, the country is a long way off being self sufficient in beef, and while the country has its own domestically produced native beef breed – Hanwoo – imports have to make up a sizeable part of the demand.
Australia and the US make up the majority of those imports, but South Korean attitudes to the concept of grass-fed beef suggests there is opportunity for Ireland in that area.
Today processor ABP launched its beef products into South Korea through the K-Meat franchise, which runs restaurants, butchers and stores throughout the country.
While the opening of this market for Irish beef is undoubtedly a benefit to processors, the big question now is will it have a tangible benefit for farmers?
Irish beef
Speaking to Agriland in Seoul, Minister McConalogue said: “South Korea is the fourth largest importer of beef in the world so it’s a significant market, and ultimately the objective here, and why we go into any markets, is to make sure there’s as many avenues as possible for the beef produced by our farmers at home, to try to get the maximum price possible and therefore to maximise the profitability of beef production in Ireland”.
The minister added: “We’ve been working for a good period of time to secure the Korean market, and this is a place where meat is very much appreciated and respected.
“The average Korean eats half a pound of meat a day.
“Beef has a good place in that menu, it’s on a par with chicken here in Korea in terms of its popularity… That shows you how much beef and meat is part of the meat market here. It’s eaten differently in many cases…but it offers great potential.”
Also commenting on the introduction of Irish beef to South Korea, Dale Crammond, the director of Meat Industry Ireland (MII), told Agriland: “The launch of Irish beef in the Korean market is a positive development for the sector. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine effort to secure this market access opportunity started back in 2010 so it has been a long road.
“Having access for bone in from the get-go is positive given that short rib product is consumed here widely.
“It was great to see the ABP short rib product on the retail shelves of K-Meats today, however the industry now needs time to allow the trade to develop. I know Dawn Meats, Kepak and Liffey are looking at opportunities here also.”
Crammond believes a key priority is to ensure that ministers can get the Korean authorities back to Ireland “as soon as possible to approve additional exporting plants for this market”.
Meanwhile Minister Heydon, who has special responsibility for new market development, also highlighted that the South Korean market presents “a fantastic opportunity” for Irish farmers and producers.