Research Reports
A Study on the Domestic Market for Halal Food
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AuthorHwang, Yunjae
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Publication Date2016.01.12
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Original
This study aims to draw the tasks to vitalize the domestic halal food market by examining the current status of the market and the halal food consumption situation and perception of Muslim consumers in Korea. This research consists of four parts: the present state of the domestic halal food market; halal food policies and response cases at home and abroad; Muslim consumers' perception and evaluation of domestic halal food; and tasks of the Korean halal food market.
With the global halal food market rapidly growing, governments and food companies all over the world are making diverse efforts for the entry into the market. Recently, the Korean government and enterprises have also payed attention to the market and have focused on securing competitiveness in it in the policy and industrial aspects. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) concluded the Korea-UAE MOU with the President's tour to the Middle East in March 2015, and announced the Development and Export Vitalization Plan of the Halal Food Industry in June 2015.
Until recently, discussions and research on halal food centered on the overseas market and promotion of export. Nevertheless, for a systematic and active push into the foreign halal food market, it is first necessary to expand the base of domestic halal food in the Korean market and to establish a foundation for related industries.
Currently, 524 items of 155 food companies in Korea have received KMF halal food certification, and 264 items of about 14 firms received overseas certification. However, domestic food manufacturers with halal certification mainly aim for export to Islamic countries. Therefore, these companies' products are rarely distributed and sold at home. According to our survey results, both Muslims who live in Korea and Muslim visitors said that they have some trust in halal foods sold in Korea. Nonetheless, the respondents were somewhat negative about the variety and availability of halal food in the country.
Only six domestic restaurants received KMF halal restaurant certification, and most restaurants that provide halal food offer food that Muslims can eat, without halal certification. The restaurants with halal certification had difficulties in supplying and handling food ingredients centered on meat and fermented food due to insufficient production infrastructures of domestic halal food ingredients. Muslim consumers also thought that eating out is not easy in Korea because of religious restrictions.
To promote the domestic halal food market, it is required to establish and implement more comprehensive and systematic policies in the long term. Halal food supply to a proper level is needed to meet demand of Muslims who live in Korea and Muslim visitors. Also, halal products should be diversified to satisfy consumers qualitatively.
In addition, it is necessary to prepare more concrete strategies by strengthening research on domestic halal food, to vitalize the domestic halal food industry by increasing demand for halal food in Korea, and to create overseas demand by improving Muslim consumers' perception and awareness of domestic halal food and certification.
Additionally, it is needed to expand opportunities for Muslims of foreign nationality living in Korea and Muslim visitors to experience Korean food in order to raise interest in and demand for Korean food products as well as Korean food. It is necessary to implement comprehensive policies linked with MAFRA's existing Korean food policy and to actively carry out cooperative projects with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism through the food-tour connection in the tourism sector for various synergy effects.
Researchers: Hwang Yunjae, Lee Kyeiim, Kim Seongwoo and Choi Jongwoo
Research period: 2015. 6. ~ 2015. 10.
E-mail address: yjhwang@krei.re.kr
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