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Originally published by Capital Businessbusiness
February 5, 2026
1w ago
A global craze for Korean culture is making its humblest snacks unaffordable
Known locally as an affordable snack or ingredient, gim typically cost around 100 won ($0.06; £0.05) per sheet in 2024 - with the snack usually sold in bundles of 10 sheets or more, or around $0.60 per pack. Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
The global popularity of South Korean culture, fueled by K-pop and K-dramas, is causing a significant price surge for gim (dried seaweed), a humble Korean staple, making it increasingly unaffordable for domestic consumers.
- South Korea's dried seaweed exports hit a record $1.13 billion in 2025.
- The price of one sheet of gim rose to above 150 won ($0.11 USD) per sheet last month, a record high, from 100 won ($0.07 USD) in 2024.
- Lee Hyang-ran, a vendor in Seoul, has been selling gim for 47 years and notes increased demand from international customers.
- The Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has pledged to monitor prices to stabilize the cost of gim.
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