- A joint marketing event for Korean forest food was held in Tokyo, Japan to expand the foundation for exports.
The Korea Forest Service (Minister KIM In-ho) announced on September 9th that a joint marketing event was held in Tokyo, Japan, from the 3rd to 7th, with exporters of key forest food items such as persimmons, jujubes, and shiitake mushrooms to promote the superiority of K-forest food and facilitate its export.

Japan is one of the top five export destinations for Korea’s forest food, accounting for about 50% of total persimmon exports. In
recent years, demand has been steadily increasing not only for raw products including chestnuts and persimmons, but also for processed products such as jujube chips and shiitake mushroom snacks.

A total 12 exporters, including Nature Farm Co., Ltd. (persimmons), Boeun Samga Jujube, and Ywang Sangsa Co., Ltd. (shiitake mushrooms), participated in the event, achieving export contracts and MOU agreements worth a combined $130,000. Among them, processed products, notably jujube caramel and tea, were recognized for its taste and quality, leading to an export contract valued at $40,000.

Consumers and buyers who visited at the venue commented, “In Japan, there is a strong perception that the most fundamental criteria for food and ingredients are taste, aroma, and healthiness. Despite this strict expectation, forest foods form Korea meet these standards, offering freshness and competitive quality.” In particular, they gave enthusiastic feedback, noting that “log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms retain the product characteristics, including a chewy texture. And their cultivation environment and methods are similar to Japanese practices, making them well-suited to Japanese consumer preferences and highly appealing products.”

NAM Song-hee, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the Korea Forest Service, stated, "The global K-Food wave and geographic logistical advantages have become key drivers of opportunities in the Japanese markets. We will continue to develop diverse marketing strategies and tailored export policies for forest food that further expand Japanese markets and beyond."