The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on May 25 said kimchi exports this year from January to April hit USD 61.1 million. The photo shows the kimchi section of a Seoul hypermarket on April 21. (Yonhap News)

Kimchi exports this year have kept pace with their record-breaking performance last year,

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on May 25 said shipments of the spicy condiment from January to last month hit USD 61.1 million, up 35.4% from the same period last year.

By region, such exports reached USD 31 million in Japan in the first four months of the year, USD 11 million in the U.S., USD 5.5 million in Europe and USD 3.1 million in target nations of the New Southern Policy (NSP).

The ministry said in a statement on the export performance, "The growth was thanks to support for research on kimchi's health benefits like antioxidation effect and immunity enhancement, as well as promotion of kimchi's excellence through both online and offline media."

Along with the U.S. and Japan, the two main markets for kimchi, Europe and NSP regions saw a continued rise in such exports over the period, forecasting sustained growth.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Kim Hyeon-soo said during a visit to a domestic kimchi exporter in Boeun-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, "The government will continue actively promoting the safety and efficiency of (Korean-made) kimchi as different from that produced overseas."

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Kim Hyeon-soo (second from left) on May 25 observes the kimchi-making process at a domestic kimchi exporter in Boeun-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)