Irish farmers to get slice of South Korea's 50,000t of beef imports

Minister McConalogue visits a meat market as part of the whole government trade mission to Korea in October 2023.

South Korea's rapidly growing market for beef has officially opened to exports from Ireland.

Making the announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said: “South Korea was designated as a priority market for access to Irish beef. My Department has been active in pursuit of this objective working for many years through the very detailed application process. 

"I used the opportunity to push the case for Irish beef during my visit to Seoul last October as part of the Whole of Government trade mission and it’s great to see all our efforts now bearing fruit.

"The good news that the final stages have been completed and exports can commence was received today after a detailed audit last month by the Korean authorities of Irish plants.”

Mr McConalogue added: “With a population of over 50 million people, there is huge potential for Irish Agri-food exporters to grow their footprint in the sophisticated Korean market. For beef, the door has now been opened, and there is a real opportunity for the industry to build on."

South Korean consumers are the highest per-capita consumers of meat across Asia, with an average consumption of 79kg per person. Of this, 17kg is beef. 

And beef consumption is predicted to grow by 1% year-on-year over the next four years. 

"Coupled with this increasing demand, South Korea is only 35% self-sufficient in beef production, meaning it relies heavily on imported beef to satisfy its sizeable demand," Mr McConalogue said.

"In 2020, South Korea imported almost 500,000t of beef, of which 92% came from the US and Australia. Irish exports will be aiming to secure a slice of this very large market.

"I plan to visit South Korea in September as part of a large Trade Mission I am leading to Asia and to further build on our trade relationships and formally launch beef in the Korean market.” 

Minister of State with responsibility for New Market Development, Martin Heydon said it represented a "significant endorsement" by the Korean Administration of Ireland’s high food safety standards and sustainability.

"These are our building blocks for high-value trade," he said. "I see the expansion of markets for Irish beef as crucial for the further development of our beef sector. Korea brings the number of markets for Irish beef to over 70, and we are actively working on others, including Vietnam and Thailand.

"This significant development will positively impact on family farms and employment in rural Ireland, adding value sustainably into the future. Every new international market increases the economic sustainability of our beef sector.

"Having visited Korea myself last year to promote the case for Irish beef, I firmly believe that our beef industry can and will compete effectively in the Korean market, and I look forward to the opportunities that this access will bring."

Minister Heydon added: “Seven Irish beef plants have been approved in this first tranche and we will be working with the Korean authorities so that the number of approved Irish beef plants can be increased in the future.” 

Concluding, Minister McConalogue thanked all those who contributed to this success, including the Irish Embassy in Seoul and his own Department, who together led this effort, along with Bord Bia, other Government Departments and agencies, the European Commission, as well as the food industry and farmers.

“It has taken a huge effort by Team Ireland, over several years, to get beef market access to South Korea across the line, and Minister Heydon and I thank everyone who has contributed to those efforts.”