Black, crispy, often flat and square - dried seaweed, known locally as gim - is a humble staple on everyday dining tables across South Korea. But as its global popularity grows, its rising prices are worrying gim-lovers nationwide.
Lee Hyang-ran has been selling gim for the past 47 years. In the past, people from Western countries thought Koreans were eating something weird that looks like a piece of black paper, says Lee from a small market stall in central Seoul. I never thought I'd be selling gim to them. But now, they all come here and buy it.
South Korea is known to be the world's largest producer and exporter of gim, supplying markets across Asia, North America, and Europe. Exports have risen steadily in recent years, hitting a record US$1.13bn in 2025. However, as demand rises, so do prices.
In 2024, sheets of gim typically cost around 100 won ($0.06), but recently prices surged above 150 won, with premium products reaching as much as 350 won per sheet.
The global appetite for gim reflects a growing demand for Korean goods, fueled by cultural influences like K-pop and K-dramas. With products like Trader Joe's Gimbap going viral, consumer familiarity is growing.
Experts attribute the price increase to multiple factors, including overall inflation, a rise in labor costs, declining production levels overseas, and heightened global demand. Domestic prices, long associated with affordability, are now encountering resistance from South Koreans who are feeling the financial strain.
In response, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is pledging to monitor prices closely and stabilize costs, while businesses innovate with land-based seaweed research and development.
Despite these challenges, local vendors like Lee continue to thrive, noting that gim has been selling well, particularly for making gimbap, amid increasing interest from tourists and consumers worldwide.
Lee Hyang-ran has been selling gim for the past 47 years. In the past, people from Western countries thought Koreans were eating something weird that looks like a piece of black paper, says Lee from a small market stall in central Seoul. I never thought I'd be selling gim to them. But now, they all come here and buy it.
South Korea is known to be the world's largest producer and exporter of gim, supplying markets across Asia, North America, and Europe. Exports have risen steadily in recent years, hitting a record US$1.13bn in 2025. However, as demand rises, so do prices.
In 2024, sheets of gim typically cost around 100 won ($0.06), but recently prices surged above 150 won, with premium products reaching as much as 350 won per sheet.
The global appetite for gim reflects a growing demand for Korean goods, fueled by cultural influences like K-pop and K-dramas. With products like Trader Joe's Gimbap going viral, consumer familiarity is growing.
Experts attribute the price increase to multiple factors, including overall inflation, a rise in labor costs, declining production levels overseas, and heightened global demand. Domestic prices, long associated with affordability, are now encountering resistance from South Koreans who are feeling the financial strain.
In response, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is pledging to monitor prices closely and stabilize costs, while businesses innovate with land-based seaweed research and development.
Despite these challenges, local vendors like Lee continue to thrive, noting that gim has been selling well, particularly for making gimbap, amid increasing interest from tourists and consumers worldwide.
