Korea’s frozen gimbap exports to U.S. plunge 80% in 2025

(CJ CheilJedang)

Demand for South Korean frozen gimbap in the United States has cooled rapidly over the past year, following a sharp surge in 2024, driven largely by social media platforms such as TikTok.

According to industry sources on Monday, U.S. imports of Korean frozen gimbap totaled $440,600 in 2025, down about 80 percent from the previous year.

In 2024 alone, exports to the U.S. had surged 16.5-fold on year to $2.2 million, reflecting explosive popularity. At the time, U.S. supermarket chain Trader Joe’s launched gimbap products produced by a Korean original equipment manufacturer.

These items went viral on social media, especially TikTok, and sold rapidly, triggering a sharp rise in exports to the U.S., particularly among small and mid-sized food companies.

While the boom cooled quickly last year, industry insiders note that excluding the exceptional spike in 2024, the overall trend still points to steady growth.

Considering that U.S. exports of Korean frozen gimbap stood at $133,800 in 2023, export volume in 2025 has effectively expanded by about 3.3 times in just two years.

“The competitiveness of Korean gimbap itself has clearly improved compared to the past,” said an industry official.

Food companies are focusing on the expansion potential of Korean gimbap in the U.S. and are pushing ahead with broader distribution and the development of products tailored to local tastes.

“This year, we plan to expand major distribution channels for gimbap in the U.S. while simultaneously stepping up digital marketing efforts,” said an official from a food company.