| By Korean Times

Despite growing global demand, halal-certified Korean products remain limited, a situation that continues to frustrate halal certification authorities in Korea.

Muslim visitors to the country often find that halal-labeled Korean food options are scarce. Although there are around 3,000 halal food shops nationwide, such as Asia Mart and Halal World Mart, most rely heavily on imported products rather than domestically produced Korean halal goods. If availability is already limited within Korea, the challenge is even greater in overseas markets. According to Mustafa Jin Jae-nam, Managing Director of the Korea Halal Authority (KHA), these stores should ideally be stocked with halal-certified Korean products.

Jin noted that major distributors in Muslim-majority countries, such as Malaysia’s Mah Sing Group, offer tens of thousands of halal items, yet only a few hundred of those are Korean-made, mostly in the food and cosmetics sectors.

KHA maintains mutual recognition agreements and memoranda of understanding with 30 halal certification bodies across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, including Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH), which oversees the world’s largest Muslim consumer market. The authority currently certifies products from around 250 active companies.

Founded in 2015, KHA is one of six halal certifiers in Korea and the only organization authorized to certify products across all categories. Its certification process involves halal specialists handling product research, inspections, and documentation; a Shariah committee of imams ensuring religious compliance; and a fair trade committee monitoring market integrity.

KHA issues six types of halal labels covering food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, industrial goods, agriculture, and tourism-related services. Initial certification is valid for one year and renewable every two years thereafter.

Jin explained that many Korean companies hesitate to pursue halal certification due to limited awareness and misconceptions about the process. Some firms are reportedly misled by private consultants who encourage them to seek foreign certification agencies to collect high brokerage fees. While global interest in K-food continues to rise, many companies still perceive halal certification as complicated and unnecessary, resulting in weak market penetration in Muslim countries.

To address this, Jin proposed hosting a halal-focused trade expo in Korea that would invite major Muslim-market distributors to directly engage with Korean halal producers. He argued this approach would be more effective than conventional government-led trade fairs, which rely mainly on brief business meetings.

For Muslim consumers, Jin emphasized that halal certification is essential, outweighing brand recognition or price considerations. Without proper labeling, Korean companies struggle to expand beyond niche retailers abroad, particularly in Southeast and Central Asia where demand is strong due to geographic proximity and cultural exchange.

Recently, KHA has received numerous inquiries from government ministries following President Lee Jae Myung’s suggestion to establish a state-led halal certification system after his visit to Dubai. While acknowledging the government’s interest, Jin criticized the proposal as premature, arguing that halal certification requires deep cultural, religious, and market expertise developed over many years.

He stressed that KHA’s framework was built through extensive global study and religious commitment, noting that all KHA employees are Muslim. Jin expressed skepticism that the government has adequately prepared regulatory structures or international recognition agreements necessary to manage halal certification effectively.

Source:

The Korea Times. (2026). Halal-certified Korean products remain scarce despite wide-open markets. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/business/companies/20260110/halal-certified-korean-products-remain-scarce-despite-wide-open-markets