South Korea's agricultural ministry on Sunday said it has reached an agreement with China to start exporting traditional chicken soup to the world's most populous country as early as June.
  
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it has completed talks on exporting "samgyetang."
  
Samgyetang is a traditional chicken soup made with a whole young chicken stuffed with ginseng, sticky rice and garlic. It is widely recognized in the country as an energy-boosting meal during the summer months.
  
The government has been promoting the export of samgyetang since 2006, but little progress has been made due to quarantine-related issues. The food is usually precooked and shipped in cans and other packages so it can be eaten easily.
  
Earlier this month, thousands of Chinese tourists feasted on the Korean dish in Seoul. The soup has also been gaining popularity in China after its appearance in the mega-hit South Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun."
  
Last year, South Korea shipped US$9.5 million worth of samgyetang to the United States, Taiwan and Japan. Industry watchers expect the country to sell $3 million worth of the products in China in the first year of sales. (Yonhap)