The cost of dried seaweed in South Korea has risen by 17.8 percent in May compared to the same period last year due to increasing demand from international markets. This increase exceeds both the average rise in seafood prices, which was 0.1 percent, and the overall consumer price increase of 2.7 percent during the same period. The retail price for a 100-sheet package of dried seaweed is now 10,700 won ($7.79), marking the largest increase since January 2018. The surge in seaweed prices aligns with a growing overseas demand for dried seaweed dishes like gimbap and gim-snacks. In 2023, South Korea exported 18,599 tons of dried seaweed, a 12.4 percent increase from the previous year, with the total value of seaweed exports surpassing the one trillion won mark for the first time. This increase in seaweed prices has affected related products, with the cost of seasoned dried seaweed products rising by 8.1 percent in May and the price of gimbap increasing by 5.2 percent, surpassing the 2.8 percent rise in dining-out prices during the same period. In response to the rising prices, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to expand seaweed farming areas by approximately 2,700 hectares starting in July, with production set to begin in October.