The country seeks to globally standardize the English name gim (dried laver) to raise the international competitiveness of the related domestic industry. Shown is a foreign tourist on March 31 buying gim at a hypermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Margareth Theresia 

The country seeks to set a global standard for the English word for dried laver as gim to boost the international competitiveness of the related domestic industry, as well as launch a grading system to differentiate prices of the product based on quality. 

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Oct. 31 announced this as part of its plan to raise the competitiveness of the domestic gim industry.

The first task is to devise a proposal to standardize the name in English and export qualifications for submission to the Codex Alimentarius Commission next year. Recognition as an international standard is expected to ease non-tariff barriers on gim to boost exports. 

A new grading system will expand the domestic gim industry by differentiating grades of the product to offer more consumer choices and use high-quality gim in high-end products. The goal is to boost such exports to USD 1 billion by 2027. 

To expand output amid rising demand for and export of gim, the ministry from next year will conduct tests to see if related farming is possible in the open sea and develop technology for farming on land.

Another plan is to set up a production system by 2026 that responds to climate change by developing and supplying gim varieties resistant to high temperatures.

"Our people love gim as a side dish or in gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), and it's being reborn as a food loved by people worldwide." Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung said. "By raising the competitiveness of our gim industry, we pledged to do our best to ensure smooth consumption of it and solidify the reputation of our gim on the global market."

margareth@korea.kr