Korean fried chicken: World's favorite K-food

In 2023, Korean-style fried chicken retained its crown as the most-loved Korean dish among global consumers, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top since the survey's inception in 2020.

This popularity signals a new horizon for Korean cuisine, showcasing its unique adaptation of American-originated fried chicken.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute announced these findings on January 4 as part of the 'Overseas Korean Food Consumer Survey.'

The survey encompassed 9,000 locals across 18 major cities, including Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, and New York.

According to the survey, 60.0% of respondents expressed familiarity with Korean cuisine, a 2.4% increase from the previous year and a continuous rise from 54.6% in 2019.

Additionally, 86.5% had heard about Korean food within the past year.

Satisfaction with Korean cuisine stood at 92.5%, slightly lower than 2022's 94.2% but consistently above 90% since 2019.

When asked about Korean food, kimchi topped the list of most associated dishes (40.2%, multiple responses), followed by bibimbap (23.6%), Korean fried chicken (16.2%), bulgogi (13.3%), and grilled meat (12.0%).

However, when it came to preferences, Korean fried chicken (16.5%), spicy Korean ramen (11.1%), and kimchi (9.8%) emerged as the top choices.

Consumption patterns over the past year mirrored these preferences, with Korean fried chicken (29.4%, multiple responses), kimchi (28.6%), and ramen (26.9%) being the most frequently consumed dishes.

Write to Jung-hwan Hwang at jung@hankyung.com