From honeymoon hotspots in the Indian Ocean to oil-rich Caribbean islands and the heart of Eastern Europe, South Korean food exports are making inroads into markets once considered out of reach.
In Mauritius, a southwest Indian Ocean island nation with a population of 1.27 million, Pepero snacks featuring the faces of K-pop group NewJeans members have become a popular gift. Known as a global honeymoon destination, Mauritius attracts over 1 million tourists annually. With tourism rebounding post-pandemic, demand for unique souvenirs like K-snacks is rising. Local importer has recently started selling the NewJeans-branded Pepero, which Lotte Wellfood developed for export. In a social media post, the company highlighted the arrival of White Cookie Pepero, said to be a favorite of NewJeans member Hanni.
“Mauritius, as a major tourist destination, has a relatively high purchasing power despite its small economy, and K-food products are often bought as souvenirs,” a Lotte Wellfood official said. The company, which has been exporting to Mauritius since 2020, sold $60,000 worth of Pepero there in 2024. While this is a fraction of sales in the U.S., Japan, or Southeast Asia, it underscores K-food’s global reach.
In Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean nation about 15,000 km from South Korea, instant noodles such as Jin Ramen and Shin Ramyun are now available. At just 5,130 square km—2.5 times the size of Jeju Island—Trinidad and Tobago boasts one of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies, thanks to its oil and gas reserves. With a cuisine influenced by Indian, Spanish, and African flavors, the country is known for its bold, spicy seasonings, making Korean ramen a natural fit for local tastes.
As Korean ramen finds a home in the Caribbean’s spice-loving cuisine, K-food is also gaining a foothold in Africa, where the Korean Wave is helping introduce new flavors. Though overall export volumes remain limited due to lower income levels, the rise of Korean pop culture through Netflix and YouTube has driven interest in Korean cuisine. According to a report by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture Information Service Agency, “K-food is emerging as a central aspect of the Korean wave in Africa.” The report highlighted the popularity of Korean embassy-led cooking events in Nigeria and the increasing interest in Korean restaurants. South Korean food company Ottogi recently began exporting sesame oil and glass noodles to Kenya.
In Europe, South Korean food firms are ramping up local production to meet growing demand. CJ CheilJedang and Daesang are establishing dumpling and kimchi factories in Europe to better serve Central and Eastern European markets. While these products were previously shipped from South Korea, rising demand has made it difficult to maintain supply through exports alone.
“Europe has long been a challenging market due to its well-established food culture and strict regulations,” an industry official said. “However, interest in Korea is now extending to food, and demand is growing so rapidly that we need local production facilities.”
Daesang is building a kimchi factory in Krakow, Poland, after South Korea’s kimchi exports to Europe surged from 9.93 billion won ($7.5 million) in 2019 to 30.94 billion won ($23.4 million) in 2024. The company established a joint venture with Polish fresh-fermented vegetable producer ChPN in May 2023 and has been using ChPN’s production facilities and distribution network to sell its Jongga kimchi in Europe. With demand rising and major retailers such as Lidl, Carrefour, and Auchan stocking kimchi, Daesang plans to begin local production in Krakow by the end of this year.
CJ CheilJedang, which already operates a dumpling factory in Germany, is set to begin producing Bibigo dumplings in Budapest, Hungary, in the second half of 2026. The European dumpling market is expanding by over 30% annually, and CJ CheilJedang aims to use Hungary as a base to expand into Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Balkans. “We plan to use Hungary as a regional hub to scale up our European market presence,” a company official said.
