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Chicken Soup for the Seoul

March 28, 2014

Korean Samgyetang cleared by USDA

Will Americans embrace Samgyetang as much as galbi, bulgogi, or bibimbap?

Soon, Americans will be able to taste authentic samgyetang, or ginseng chicken soup, straight from the source.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week in a final rule that chicken imports from South Korea have been approved, effective in 60 days.

Poultry — which includes chicken, duck and turkey — that has been processed in certified establishments will be making its way to the U.S. Currently, two processing facilities in Korea have been approved.

“This import approval signifies the acceptance of the Korean production and hygiene system as equal to that of the one in the U.S.,” said Kim Jun-girl, health official at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Washington.

Samgyetang is a summer staple dish in Korea and has long been held as a health food.

Korean processed poultry had been banned from the U.S. since 1999. A push to have Korean samgyetang approved for import has been underway since 2004, and a move to change the regulation began in 2012.

Promotional activities for samgyetang, especially targeted toward the Korean and Chinese markets, will begin in June, said Lee Won-ki, branch manager of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.