Hoengseong hanwoo breaks into Middle East, following Qatar debut with Dubai push

Hoengseong hanwoo beef is carving out a new frontier in the Middle East, a push that has gained momentum since the launch of the county's ninth elected administration under Hoengseong-gun County Chief Jang Shin-sang.

According to Hoengseong-gun, the county successfully completed a shipment ceremony for its first Qatar export on Oct. 13 and a local launch event on Oct. 18, and is now pressing ahead with a Dubai promotional event this week alongside a Middle East buyer tour organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation (aT).

The Qatar launch event on Oct. 18 drew strong interest from local consumers and retail industry officials and was described as a resounding success.

The Qatar export has been widely covered by major media outlets and is seen as an important milestone — one that demonstrates Hoengseong hanwoo's exceptional quality and global competitiveness while marking the beef's formal entry into the Middle East halal market.

A series of events aimed at expanding the Middle East market are now under way.

A Dubai promotional event organized by the Hoengseong Livestock Cooperative runs Monday through Friday, with organizers aiming to showcase the beef's quality in the region's largest commercial and economic hub and lay the groundwork for partnerships with local distributors.

Separately, a delegation of key Middle East buyers will visit Hoengseong-gun as part of a buyer invitation program hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and aT.

The buyer delegation plans to tour the county's slaughterhouse and export processing facility — the only one in South Korea to hold halal certification — conducting a rigorous inspection of its hygiene and safety management systems and production processes, with discussions expected on expanding future export contracts.

"The success of this Qatar export is the result of Hoengseong hanwoo earning recognition for its world-class taste, quality and safety," County Chief Jang said. "We will ensure the Dubai promotional event and the Middle East buyer visit proceed without a hitch, so that Hoengseong hanwoo can firmly establish itself not just in the Middle East but across the global premium meat market."