When U.S. beef first re-entered the Korean market after a lengthy BSE-related closure, the U.S. industry faced the daunting task of rebuilding Korean consumers’ confidence in the safety of U.S. beef. The latest consumer survey results, compiled through a Gallup poll conducted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, show remarkable progress has been made, with more than 70% of respondents expressing confidence in the safety of U.S. beef and nearly 70% saying they intend to purchase U.S. beef.
USMEF vice president for the Asia Pacific Jihae Yang, who headed USMEF’s Korea office during the market reopening, says support from the Beef Checkoff Program and USDA played a critical role in this effort. She notes that Korea is currently the leading destination for U.S. beef exports and has been the #1 value market for the U.S. beef for two consecutive years – including a record $2.7 billion in 2022. Yang also thanks beef producers for their long-term investment in the Korean market, which continues to deliver impressive results.
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