Korean seaweed prices soar due to love calls from overseas... Korean reports say they will develop seaweed farms to curb seaweed prices

Last year, seaweed became the first seafood product to reach the 1 trillion won (US$1.13 billion) export record. Recently, the domestic price of seaweed has been rising due to this export boom.
The price of seaweed, which used to be less than 100 won (about 11.3 yen) per liter, has recently risen to the 130 won (about 14.7 yen) range.
In order to make it more sustainable, the government plans to not only expand the farms, but also develop new varieties that are resistant to climate change, such as rising sea temperatures.
The price of 10 pieces of 1000 yen (1,304 won) rose to 1,333 won (151 yen) on the 30th, but was 1,270 won (144 yen) as of the 2nd.
The price of dried seaweed during the same period last year was 1,017 won (about 115 yen), while the average price was 923 won (about 105 yen), less than 1,000 won (about 113 yen).
Recently, the price of seaweed has been attracting attention due to the rising prices of food such as seaweed rolls. In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 25th of last month that it will develop a new seaweed farm of 2,700 hectares.
The government has announced various measures to stabilize the supply and demand of seaweed, including the development of a new seaweed farm by July and the start of production in October. It also plans to introduce a "contract cultivation" system like for agricultural products.
The government is also considering ways to adjust supply and demand and prices in the long term. In particular, with export demand for seaweed expected to continue, climate change, including rising sea temperatures, is seen as a structural crisis.
Korea is the number one producer of seaweed, far ahead of other countries such as Japan and China, but to stabilize long-term production and supply, it is necessary to separate seaweed from other farmed products such as abalone and flounder.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology, which is under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, has been developing domestic seaweed varieties since 2008.
The fast-growing radial laver, which accounts for the majority of Korean laver farming production, as well as the ippadii rock laver, which is famous as gopchang laver, are all the results of research by the National Fisheries Research Institute.
To date, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology has developed a total of 19 varieties, which is a much faster pace than Japan, which has developed 17 varieties over the course of about 60 years.
The ratio has risen from 20% in the past to 95% today. However, with the recent rise in seawater temperatures due to climate change, there is an increasing demand for the development of new seaweed varieties.
Moss, along with wakame seaweed and kombu kelp, is a cold-current seaweed that is vulnerable to high seawater temperatures. In response to this, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology is working to develop a variety of nori that can adapt to environmental changes and grow well even in high seawater temperatures.
Currently, the varieties are being cultivated in laboratories, and they will be available for sale after undergoing field testing in the natural environment.
Tests are also being conducted to select varieties suited to the local environment.
Local governments in Busan, Incheon, Chungnam-do and other areas are selecting seaweed varieties developed by the National Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology that are suited to their local environment.
Busan has been developing seaweed tailored to the Japanese market since 2020, and plans to soon launch the seaweed on the market as a regional brand.