Studies with various approaches are required for the globalization of Korean Food. The objectives of this study were i) how the preferences of foreign students residing in Korea on K-Wave, K-Drama, K-Pop and K-Friend affect their preference, satisfaction level and repurchase intention on Korean food, and ii) which of the factors have the strongest effects on their preference, satisfaction level and repurchase intention on Korean food. The results showed that the higher K-Wave, K-Drama, K-Pop and K-Friend preferences, the stronger effect on the preference, satisfaction level and repurchase intention on Korean food (p=0.0001). Among the factors for Korean food preference, the most critical one was K-Wave preference (p=0.0001), followed by K-Drama preference (p=0.0500). For the satisfaction level of Korean food, the most important factor among the four was K-Wave preference (p=0.0496), followed by K-Drama preference (p=0.0500). For the repurchase intention on Korean food, the most significant factor was the preference for K-Friend (p=0.0004), followed by K-Drama (p=0.0016) and K-Wave (p=0.0030). Based on these results, more efforts to invigorate the preferences for K-Wave and K-Drama, as well as various attempts to improve the preference for K-Friend are required for the globalization of Korean Food.

2017년에 이어 2018년에도 경기도, 강원도 북부 8개 군과 한반도 북방 유사지역인 연길과 단동에서 벼, 옥수수, 콩, 감자, 맥류포장에 발생하는 주요해충을 조사하였다. 국내 북부지역의 벼에서는 벼물바구미 등 4종, 옥수수에서는 조명나방과 멸강나방, 콩에서는 진딧물 등 7종(콩나방은 연천의 1개 포장만), 감자와 밀에서는 진딧물이 발생하였다. 북방 유사지역에서의 해충 발생은 국내 북부지역과 유사하였으며 벼에서는 이화명나방, 콩에서는 잎벌레류와 들명나방, 감자에서는 가류이류와 큰28점박이무당벌레, 밀에서는 진딧물과 멸강나방이 발생하였다. 단동에서 이화명나방, 조명나방, 담배거세미나방, 톱다리개미허리노린재 등이 페로몬 트랩에 의한 유살수가 많았고, 콩나방은 적은 량이 유살되었다. 유효적산온도를 이용하여 벼멸구, 흰등멸구의 발생세대를 추정한 결과, 벼멸구는 7월 상순 비래 후 2세대 성충이 서해안에서는 9월 중순, 동해안에서는 9월말에 나오는 것으로 계산되었으나 그 외 북부지역에서는 발생하지 못하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 벼멸구 비래량이 평년 수준일 경우 고사피해는 나오지 않을 것으로 추정되었다. 흰등멸구는 서해안과 동해안에서는 3세대, 내륙에서는 1-2세대를 경과하는 것으로 추정되었다.

This study examined the potential of export items in Malaysia by investigating the awareness and preference for Korean food products. A high potential product list developed from the literature, included reports about the food export status in Korea and Malaysian food trends. An online survey was carried out with 600 consumers in Malaysia. With 435 valid responses, the average awareness of the Korean food products was 3.13, and the preference was 3.48 on a 5-point scale. The awareness and preference of Korean food products were higher in the 20s-30s group than in the older groups. In particular, the Muslim group had a higher awareness for ‘ramyon’ than the other groups, and the Buddhist group had a higher preference for ‘ginseng beverage’ than the other groups. The most well-known and preferred products were ramyon, hot noodles, kimchi, biscuits, fruits & vegetable beverage, and sauce (with Korean traditional sauce)’. Based on these results, the marketing implications of the study findings are discussed.

This study surveyed the recognition, image, preference, attributes, satisfaction and revisit intention for Korean food of local Vietnamese to facilitate the globalization of Korean food. Most participants had recognized Korean food. and, they were especially aware of kimchi (김치), bulgogi (불고기) and bibimbab (비빔밥), Additionally, most repondents thought these foods represent Korean traditions and culture very well. The image of local Vietnamese for Korean food was good. Which was reflected in Korean food having “a good reputation” and a high possibility for “globalization” were high. This study also investigated 16 kinds of Korean food and found the highest preferences to be for bulgogi (불고기), followed by galbitang (갈비탕), whereas that for doenjangchigae (된장찌개) was lowest. Some of the top choice attributes of Vietnamese for Korean food were found to be in “because it is ‘colorful’, ‘prepared sincerely’, ‘plated neatly’, ‘fresh’ and ‘comes with a variety of banchans (side dishes). This is a very meaningful result, making this an important reference for the globalization of Korean food. The local Vietnamese had high satisfaction and reuse intention degree for Korean food, and especially high satisfaction with the colorfulness of Korean food. In addition, the local Vietnamese showed a very high revisit intention for Korean food.

Purpose: This study investigated the dietary patterns associated with Korean food and the level of proper eating habits according to recognition of the Kimchi cooking method, and aimed to suggest the necessity of dietary education of traditional foods such as Kimchi. Methods: Based on the results of the national dietary survey conducted in 2014 by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea, a total of 1200 subjects were classified into two groups, one that knew how to make Kimchi (53.8%) and another that did not (46.2%). Results: The group that knew how to make Kimchi (FG) showed significantly higher scores in knowledge of how to cook most types of Korean foods and traditional fermented foods than the other group (NG). Moreover, FG showed significantly higher scores in regularity in meals and a higher frequency of Korean foods such as rice, Kimchi, and grilled or stewed food, while it showed significantly lower scores in dietary risk factors than NG. In addition, FG showed significantly higher scores in dietary education interest and number of meals with family during the week than NG. Finally, FG had significantly higher scores in the degrees of practice of all eight items related to proper eating habits. Conclusion: Since recognition of Kimchi cooking has a great influence on maintenance of dietary life, dietary education to improve the cooking ability of traditional foods should be further strengthened.

The consumption of high-salt foods is an independent risk factor for increased hypertension. Thus, evaluating the relationship of taste sensitivity and pleasantness of high-salt foods such as Korean jang products, would help contribute to an understanding of salty food eating behaviors of the Korean rural elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between taste sensitivity and salinity of Korean jang products, and the preferences of food groups and nutrient intake in the rural elderly. We studied 269 elderly persons (males 83, females 186) aged above 65 years, residing in the rural area, Sunchang gun Jeonbuk. For each subject, a recognition threshold of 4 basic tastes and pleasant concentrations of NaCl were estimated using the sip- and–spit method. Taste preferences, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, and salinity and sweetness of Korean jang products (Doenjang, Ganjang, Gochujang) were assessed. No association was found between salt taste recognition threshold and optimally preferred concentration of salt and salinity of Korean jang products. However, the sweet taste recognition threshold was positively related to the sweetness of Korean jang products. Also, the salinity of Doenjang positively correlated with the frequencies of food groups and nutrient intakes. That is to say that the sweet taste sensitivity was related to the sweetness of Korean jang products, but was not sensitive to the salty taste. The salinity of Doenjang correlated with the consumption of food and nutrient intakes. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for appropriate intervention and education to reduce the salinity of Doenjang, which is an important modifiable factor contributing to reducing sodium intake in the rural elderly.

Stress has been associated with poor eating behavior and diet quality. Yet, the relationship between nutrient and food intake and perceived stress in Korean female adults has not been validated. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between nutrient and food intake and perceived stress in Korean female adults. This is a cross-sectional study based on the 2014-2015 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey data. This study investigated 2,010 female adults age 19~64. In this study, according to subjects' perceived stress, we classified subjects into very low-stress recognition group (VLSRG) (n=211), low-stress recognition group (VSRG) (n=1,223), high-stress recognition group (HSRG) (n=488) and very high-stress recognition group (VHSRG) (n=88). Daily nutrients and food group intake, food groups consumed (Dietary Diversity Score, DDS) were analyzed using data from the 24-recall method. The VHSRG had a larger proportion of subjects that were younger (p<0.0001), single (p<0.0001) and smokers (p<0.0001) compared to the VLSRG. Energy and food intake did not differ between the four groups. Percentage of subjects with protein (p=0.0322), vitamin A (p=0.0364) and vitamin C (p=0.0115) intake lower than the EAR (estimated average requirement) in the VHSRG were significantly lowest in the four groups. Also, food intake percentage from fruits and seaweed groups in the VHSRG were lower than other groups (p=0.0034, p=0.0015). DDS in the VHSRG (3.87) was significantly lowest in the four groups (p=0.0022). Results suggest that perceived stress in Korean female adults may by significant to consider in nutritional education programs.

This study aimed to investigate potential acceptability of Korean jang products among Halal food consumer’s to predict its market possibility in a Halal food market. Focus Group Interview (FGI) was implemented to 11 Halal food consumers residing in Korea for more than 4 month. During the test, 3 types of fermented paste, doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were evaluated by applying these to Korean foods. In depth interview was conducted on the liking of the jang applied samples, general experiences of Korean food and fermented food in their home countries. The results showed that consumers were positive to Korean jang applied samples in general. The mean liking ratings of doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were 7.1, 7 and 7.6 on 9-point hedonic scale, respectively. Consumers focused on the sweet and spicy flavor quality of the samples. Consumers commonly responded that the doenjang tasted too salty and needed to increase sweet and spicy flavor, and ssamjang needed to increase spicy flavor as well. Sweetening was necessary for gochujang. The reasons of liking Korean jang were because the flavors were unique yet familiar. The balanced flavor of salty, sweet and spicy flavor were additional reasons of liking. However, the fermented smell of jang products were reasons of disliking the products.

This study aimed to investigate the perception and preferences related to Korean food according to the ethnicity of university students in Yanbian, China. Korean food was preferred by Korean-Chinese as compared with Chinese students, and Korean-Chinese students preferred Korean food more than Chinese food. Both Korean-Chinese and Chinese preferred Korean food more than traditional Chosun food. More Korean-Chinese than Chinese students had positive perceptions of Korean food, which included foods made with jang, kimchi smell, and healthiness due to diversity. For evaluation of Korean food taste, more Chinese than Korean-Chinese subjects thought Korean food is not greasy and hoped salty taste. Both awareness and preferences related to Korean food were significantly higher in Korean-Chinese than Chinese students. Meat foods (so-galbi, dak-galbi, jang-jorim) were relatively high in terms of preference in both Korean-Chinese and Chinese students. Moreover, Chinese students preferred Korean traditional foods (sujeonggwa, yakgwa, gangjeong). In Korean- Chinese students, Korean representative traditional foods (kimchi, jangajji) and Korean traditional holiday foods (tteokguk, mandu-guk) were relatively low in terms of preference. This study found that the traditional food culture of Korean-Chinese has been maintained in Yanbian, whereas there is a change in the young generation.

This study aimed to investigate the perception and preferences related to Korean food of university students in Yanbian, China. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 306 (124 males and 182 females) students. The preferences for Chinese food (44.7%) and a combination of Korean (32.0%) and Chosun food (12.4%) were similar, and Korean food was more preferred than traditional Chosun food. The main reason for preferences for Korean food was taste. The perception of Korean hot spices and kimchi smell was not good, whereas positive perceptions where held for foods made with jang, new Korean food experience and healthiness of Korean food. Awareness of Korean food was in the order of bibimbap, kimchibokkeum- bap, gimbap, baechi-kimchi and ttoe-bbokki. Preference order was bulgogi, so-galbi, jang-jorim, dak-galbi and dewaeji-galbil. Meat foods and Korean traditional foods were relatively high, whereas kimchi, ttoe-bbokki and bibimbap were relatively low in terms of preference. More female than male students preferred Korean food, and the perception of new food experience and healthiness of Korean food were positive. Moreover, both awareness and preference related to Korean food were significantly higher in female than male students. These results can be used as a foundation to prepare a localization strategy of Korean food to China.

Despite growing interest in Korean foods, South-east Asian consumers’ perception and acceptance of Korean foods have not been well elucidated. This study was conducted to understand South-east Asian Muslim consumers’ perception and acceptance of Korean foods and the association with their food neophobia level. Ninety-three Muslim consumers (mean ages 25.2, men 35.5%, women 64.5%) from Malaysia (72%), Indonesia (16.1%), and Singapore (11.9%) rated their degree of food neophobia as well as recognition and acceptance of representative Korean menu items. Background data such as duration of stay and Korean food consumption habits were collected. Overall, participants perceived Korean foods positively (4.04 on a 5-point hedonic scale). Most well-recognized Korean foods were gimbap and bulgogi, whereas less-known spicy foods such as ojingoe deopbap were most liked among items that were actually consumed. A neophobic group rated Korean foods less favorably than neutral and neophilic groups (p<0.05). Future studies are required to identify whether or not South-east Asian Muslim consumers’ food neophobia is formed under the influence of religious regulations or reflect individual consumers’ personal traits.