It turns out that Korean-style chicken, ramen, and kimchi are the most favored Korean dishes among foreigners. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – A survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institution has revealed that Korean-style chicken, ramen, and kimchi are the most favored Korean dishes among foreigners.
The survey, targeting residents of major cities like Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, and New York, was conducted last year in 18 foreign cities.
According to the survey results released on January 4, 60% of respondents said they were well-acquainted with Korean cuisine, marking a 2.4 percentage point increase from a year ago and showing a consistent rise from 54.6% in 2019.
Among the respondents, 86.5% had heard about Korean cuisine within the last year, even though the overall satisfaction rate with Korean food decreased slightly to 92.5% from 94.2% a year earlier, it has maintained a high level above 90% over the past five years.
When asked about foods that come to mind when thinking of Korean cuisine, kimchi ranked first with 40.2% (multiple responses allowed), followed by bibimbap (23.6%), and Korean-style chicken (16.2%).
Other popular dishes included bulgogi (13.3%), meat barbecue (12%), tteokbokki (11.7%), gimbap (9%), and ramen (8.3%).
K Street Food (Image credit: Kobiz Media)
The most frequently consumed Korean dishes in the past year were Korean-style chicken (29.4%), kimchi (28.6%), and ramen (26.9%). Korean-style chicken (16.5%) was the most preferred, followed by ramen (11.1%), kimchi (9.8%), and bibimbap (8.8%). The popularity of chicken and ramen is believed to have significantly increased, riding the wave of the global craze for K-pop and K-dramas.
The survey also found that Korean cuisine is perceived as flavorful, reasonably priced, popular, and trendy.
Moon Ji-in, director of the Food and Food Service Industry Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, commented, “Following the selection of 11 Korean restaurants in New York City by the Michelin Guide last year, this survey has confirmed the expanding recognition and continued high satisfaction with Korean cuisine among international consumers. We plan to actively support Korean cuisine to become a regular part of foreigners’ daily diets, moving beyond a one-time experience.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
