A host of Korean food items have made headway in overseas markets this year, despite little knowledge overseas of Korean cuisine.

According to foreign media, CJ Foods saw its exports of Korean food to Britain jump 135 percent this year, with big chain supermarkets such as Tesco and ASDA offering more Korean products.

Foodies can now find kkakdugi, a cube-shaped radish kimchi, in a trendy steakhouse chain in London called Hawksmoor, as its chefs serve main dishes with typical Korean side dishes.

The Guardian ran a column on the advantages of dolsot bibimbap, a mix of rice and various condiments and vegetables, explaining how it is served in a stone pot with red pepper paste. The New York Times also praised the Korean style beef-rib stew as easy to cook at home.

The making of “somaek” (mixture of soju and beer), popular among Koreans, is also drawing attention from foreigners interested in Korean drinking culture.

By Yoon Ha-youn, Intern reporter
(yhayoun@heraldcorp.com)