Mackerel is the most popular seafood among South Koreans. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
BUSAN, Apr. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – A nationwide survey conducted by the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) to mark its 40th anniversary has revealed that mackerel, often referred to as the “people’s fish,” is the most popular seafood among South Koreans.
According to the survey results on public perceptions released on April 28, 14% of respondents chose mackerel as their favorite seafood item. Following closely were squid (12.9%) and laver (10.4%), while other highly favored options included parrot fish (7.8%), shrimp (6.5%), hairtail (6.5%), and salmon (3.7%).
Interestingly, the survey showed a distinct preference when it came to sashimi (raw fish). An overwhelming 40.6% of respondents named parrot fish as their favorite sashimi choice, differing from the overall seafood preferences. After parrot fish, the next most popular sashimi options were salmon (11.3%), red seabream (5.7%), yellowtail (5.4%), red tilefish (4.1%), and squid (3.5%).
When asked about their preferred locations for consuming seafood, more than half of the respondents (55%) cited their homes. Other popular choices included sashimi restaurants (17%), general eateries (15.5%), and delivery services (7.2%).
Regarding seafood purchasing venues, large supermarket chains (46.9%) were the most common option, surpassing traditional markets (21.1%) and online shopping (13.9%).
On the subject of country-of-origin labeling for seafood products, only 45.9% of respondents stated that they trust such labels, while a larger portion either had a neutral stance (38.8%) or expressed distrust (15.2%).
When asked about the most pressing issues in need of improvement related to seafood, safety enhancement (30%) topped the list of responses. This was followed by calls for more affordable prices (27.8%) and greater transparency in trade practices, including country-of-origin labeling (18.9%).
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
