Koreans Found to Consume More Foreign Beef

SOUTH KOREA - South Koreans consumed more American and other foreign beef than expensive local beef last year, a move that has lowered the country's self-sufficiency rate for beef to below 40 per cent over 13 years, a state-run think tank said Thursday.
calendar icon 2 February 2017
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Last year, South Koreans consumed 362,000 tons of foreign beef, accounting for 62.3 per cent of the total beef consumption in the country, according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute.

Australian beef came to 178,000 tons, making up 49 per cent of total beef imports. American and New Zealand beef stood at 42 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.

South Korea halted imports of US beef in 2003 following the outbreak of a mad cow disease. Seoul lifted the ban in late 2008, which led to mass demonstrations among people in fear of their safety.

Still, the market share of American beef in South Korea has gradually been on the rise in recent years.

In comparison, South Koreans consumed 219,000 tons of domestic beef, known as hanwoo last year, accounting for 37.7 per cent of the total beef consumption in the country, according to the institute.

It marked the first time that South Korea's self-sufficiency rate for beef fell below 40 per cent since 2003 when it stood at 36.3 per cent.

The decline came as South Korean consumers shunned expensive local beef.

The wholesale prices of local beef once hit nearly 20,000 won ($17) per kilogram last year.

Retail prices of the best quality local beef for bulgogi, a grilled marinated beef dish, came to 4,578 won per 100 grams last year, compared to 2,464 won for American beef for bulgogi, according to the institute.

The prices of local beef have been on the rise since late 2015 as the number of cattle is continuing to fall.

Source: The Korea Herald

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