The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) are expanding a safe K-food distribution network in Malaysia.

aT announced on the 19th that it held the “K-Halal Food Distribution Expansion Korea-Malaysia Joint Seminar” on the 18th at the One World Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This seminar was promoted through the combined efforts of related organizations, including the Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia, and the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency, to protect the value of K-food and to help resolve difficulties faced by local export companies.

During the seminar, participants discussed concrete measures to eradicate the distribution of counterfeit and imitation K-food products, which have been rapidly increasing in the ASEAN market. They also helped domestic companies gain a proactive understanding of local labeling regulations and halal enforcement guidelines, and exchanged views on improving the local export environment and securing a safe distribution network through cooperation between institutions from both countries.

The Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency shared practical solutions under the theme of “Professional Training on Identifying Genuine K-Brand Products,” focusing on fundamentally blocking and identifying counterfeit and imitation products at the distribution stage. In addition, Malaysian KPDN enforcement officers supported exporters by presenting case studies from their enforcement department, including ▲ import food labeling regulations ▲ misleading cases ▲ conformity of imported halal foods, based on their field experience.

Jeon Ki-chan, Director of Export Food at aT, said, “This was a highly practical and useful event, as local enforcement authorities and major distribution networks joined forces under the common goal of ‘protecting the value of K-halal food,’ leading to export expansion and consumer protection,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen cooperation with relevant institutions to resolve intellectual property rights infringements occurring locally.”

Meanwhile, the scale of K-food in Malaysia is increasing every year. As of May last year, exports of agricultural, livestock, and food products recorded USD 81.24 million. Major items such as ▲ instant noodles (USD 23.799 million, up 11.9% year-on-year), ▲ confectionery (USD 4.513 million, 48.7%), ▲ kimchi (USD 859,000, 13.1%), and ▲ yuza (yuzu) (USD 322,000, 134.5%) are showing marked growth.

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