Josh Maschhoff, who recently visited the country with the US Meat Export Federation, says tariff-free trade has helped develop it into pork's third-largest export market.

 

"A state the size of Indiana with 52 million people is the equivalent of what South Korea looks like, so it's pretty dense."  He says, "They have just an overall great demand for US pork. They look to the US for quality, and they're very focused on how they can put it in convenient delivery methods for their consumers."

 

He tells Brownfield that the desire for convenience rather than additional cuts provides the biggest opportunity for growth.

 

"Marinated pork products." He says, "Today, they import those as fresh cuts. It will go to a further processing unit where they're making them into marinated home meal replacements.  So, being able to make those domestically here to be shipped over there is an opportunity."

 

Maschhoff says nearly 40% of South Koreans live alone, which has been a main demand driver for the individualized meals that are comparable to frozen meals found in local grocery stores.