Dried seaweed, called "gim" in Korea, is now much more expensive. This is happening because many people around the world like Korean culture. Gim was a common snack and cooking item for Koreans. Now, it is wanted by many countries. Because of this, many Koreans can no longer afford it.
Lee Hyang-ran sells gim at her market stall in Seoul. She remembers when people from Western countries thought gim looked strange. "They thought it was like black paper," she said. She did not think she would sell much gim to them. However, now they buy it often. This shows how much people's ideas about gim have changed.
K-dramas, K-pop, and Korean movies are very popular. This popularity has made people want Korean food. Gim has become a very popular food item. Statistics show that South Korea exports a lot more dried seaweed now. In 2025, exports reached $1.13 billion. This is much more than before. Gim used to be mainly for Koreans.
This big demand from other countries affects Koreans. Kim Jaela buys a lot of gim. She used to buy about 500 sheets at once. In 2024, one sheet cost about 100 won. Packs of sheets cost about $0.60. Last month, one sheet cost more than 150 won. This small price increase means buying a lot of gim costs much more money. Some special gim now costs 350 won per sheet. This makes it even harder to buy.
Gim is now popular outside Asia, in North America and Europe. More people in these places like Korean tastes. This puts more pressure on South Korea's production. The industry must now think about exporting. Global demand and how to send the products affect the prices.
The K-wave is good for Korea and the seaweed business. However, it is difficult for many Koreans. Gim was a cheap food. Now it is becoming a luxury item. This shows how culture can change business. The future price of gim will show how strong Korean culture's influence is.