SHINAN — The "1004 Oyster," the flagship premium seafood product of Shinan County in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, is making a full-scale push into overseas markets.
Shinan County said on the 27th that it will begin exporting 1004 Oysters to Malaysia in November and plans to start regular shipments to Hong Kong in January 2027. The export expansion follows strong assessments of the product's quality and marketability by overseas distributors. The county said it aims to use the momentum to establish the oysters in premium seafood markets abroad.
The Malaysian shipments grew out of a market test conducted there in July. Samples supplied for tasting at the time drew positive responses on both taste and quality. Weekly shipments of 50 kilograms will begin in November.
Entry into the Hong Kong market is also taking shape. The county plans to supply 200 kilograms a month to the Korean Club, scheduled to open in January. Officials expect the deal to raise brand recognition in Hong Kong's high-end dining market and secure a stable overseas sales channel.
The product is also gaining ground in South Korea's premium dining market. Following a visit by overseas buyers, the county pursued a supply contract with a premium buffet in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The first shipment of 100 kilograms will be delivered on the 28th, with volumes set to rise to 200 kilograms a week.
Shinan's 1004 Oysters are premium single oysters grown on exposed tables in clean tidal flats. They are known for a firm texture and deep flavor, and suppressed gonad development allows them to maintain quality through the summer. Those traits have drawn attention to the oysters as a high-value seafood product that can be shipped year-round.
Twenty-two fishing households in Shinan County currently farm 1004 Oysters. The harvest is supplied mainly to high-end dining venues, including luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants in South Korea.
"Expanding exports to Hong Kong and Malaysia is the result of the quality and competitiveness of Shinan's 1004 Oysters being recognized in overseas markets," a Shinan County official said. "Through thorough quality control and aggressive development of overseas sales channels, we will grow Shinan's 1004 Oysters into South Korea's leading premium K-oyster brand."