[News Space=Reporter seungwon lee] As the Trump administration officially recommended kimchi as a gut-healthy food in its 'Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030,' stock prices of Korean kimchi companies are skyrocketing.

On January 8th (local time), Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced guidelines in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the importance of "consuming fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir alongside vegetables and high-fiber foods." This news sent domestic kimchi-related stocks soaring, providing positive news for the industry.

Key changes in US health guidelines include fermented foods like kimchi for the first time

The new guidelines effectively eliminate ultra-processed foods and nearly double the recommended protein intake from 0.8g per kilogram of body weight to 1.2-1.6g per kilogram. A 68kg adult is recommended to consume 81.6-108.8g of protein per day, and animal fats like red meat and butter are re-evaluated. With 70% of American adults overweight or obese and one-third of adolescents at risk for diabetes, fermented foods like kimchi, which help maintain a healthy gut microbiome, are now specifically mentioned for the first time.

Kimchi company stocks soar

On the 9th, Daesang Holdings' stock price rose 14.27% from the previous day to close at 11,700 won during trading on the Korea Exchange. Its subsidiary, Daesang, rose 4.64% to close at 27,550 won. Pulmuone rose 5.45% to 13,340 won, and CJ CheilJedang-related stocks also showed strength. Expectations for increased kimchi exports, the first outcome of the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) policy, fueled the stock price surge.

Ranking of companies dominating the domestic kimchi market

The Korean packaged kimchi market is projected to reach KRW 656 billion in 2023, a 22% increase from KRW 537 billion in 2021. Daesang (Jongga brand) holds the top spot with a 38.9% market share, followed by CJ CheilJedang (Bibigo) with 36%. Pulmuone is a strong exporter thanks to its acquisition of a local brand in the US, and its kimchi exports in the first half of the year reached USD 83.17 million, a more than 50% year-on-year increase. Daesang Jongga has maintained the top brand power in the kimchi category of the Korea Brands Index (K-BPI) for 25 consecutive years.

Global Export Outlook

With the probiotic value of kimchi recognized by US guidelines, global market expansion is expected. Experts recommend consuming 40-60g per serving, considering sodium intake, but they believe the nutritional status of K-food has been strengthened. Domestic companies are accelerating exports to North America and Europe, increasing the likelihood of achieving Daesang Group's $100 million sales target by 2025.