What food comes to mind for foreigners when they think of Korean cuisine?
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Korea Food Promotion Institute surveyed locals in 18 major cities overseas, asking them which foods they associate with Korean cuisine. The results were published last March.
The survey results revealed that kimchi was the most recognized Korean food, with 40.2% of respondents mentioning it. Bibimbap came in second at 23.6%, followed by Korean-style fried chicken (K-chicken) at 16.2%, bulgogi at 13.3%, grilled meat at 12.0%, tteokbokki at 11.7%, gimbap at 9.0%, and ramen at 8.3%.
As for the favorite Korean dish among international consumers, K-chicken led with 16.5%, followed by ramen at 11.1%, kimchi at 9.8%, bibimbap at 8.9%, bulgogi at 6.1%, gimbap at 3.9%, tteokbokki at 3.7%, and grilled meat at 3.3%.
The survey showed that 60.0% of respondents indicated familiarity with Korean food, and 86.5% stated they had encountered information about Korean cuisine within the past year.
These findings are consistent with data from CreaTrip, a global K-tourism platform. CreaTrip reported dining menu consumption trends by nationality based on transaction data from foreign tourists visiting Korea in February last year. Chicken emerged as the most popular item among all dining menus, recording the highest transaction volume among international visitors, regardless of nationality.
CreaTrip remarked that tourists can conveniently order food online, even if they are not fluent in Korean. They also highlighted that many tourists visit offline stores, such as those operated by Kyochon Chicken, which offers new ways to enjoy chicken.
Surprisingly, foreign visitors’ second most popular menu item was ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab), which ranked just after chicken in transaction volume. Travelers from Taiwan and Hong Kong contributed around 87% of the transaction volume and approximately 89% of the transaction value for this dish. A Taiwanese traveler using CreaTrip commented that it’s rare to find dishes that prepare raw seafood safely in hot countries. They noted that the flavor of ganjang gejang is not overly sweet or salty, which suits their taste preferences.
So, why do foreigners love Korean-style chicken? One reason is that fried chicken is widely enjoyed across many cultures. Like bulgogi and grilled meats, fried chicken is an accessible dish for foreigners.
Another key factor is the distinct sauces that enhance Korean-style chicken’s flavor. The Korean chicken industry is one of the most competitive sectors in the dining market, with franchises investing heavily in creating original and delicious chicken through innovative batter and sauces.
Furthermore, the Korean Wave has sparked significant interest in chicken featured in movies and dramas, further contributing to the popularity of Korean-style chicken.
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