S. Korea's ice cream exports hit all-time high of $50 million in H1

South Korea's ice cream exports reached an all-time high of $50 million in the January-June period, up 14 percent from a year earlier, amid a global heat wave and the growing popularity of Korean culture.

During the aforementioned period, imports increased 0.3 percent year over year to $28 million, again setting an all-time high.

With $18 million in exports or 36 percent of the total, the US was Korea's top destination for ice cream.

According to information provided by the Korea Customs Service, other important markets were the Philippines, Canada, and Vietnam.

According to the agency, overseas demand appears to have risen due to the hot weather across the globe and increased interest in Korean food items on the back of pop culture popularity.

South Korea accounted for 1.6 percent of the global ice cream market, increasing 1.3 percent from 2019.