Dried seaweed, called gim in South Korea, is becoming pricier as global demand surges. Lee Hyang-ran, a vendor in Seoul for 47 years, notes, "I never thought I'd be selling gim to Westerners. But now, they all come here and buy it." South Korea leads the world in gim production and exports, with sales hitting $1.13 billion in 2025, says the Korea Maritime Institute. Prices are climbing fast. A sheet of gim that cost about 100 won ($0.06) in 2024 now sells for over 150 won. Premium sheets fetch as much as 350 won each. Many buyers, like Kim Jaela, who usually stocks up on 500 sheets, say rising costs might stop them from buying more. This price hike is linked to rising global fame of Korean culture, including K-pop and dramas, which has pushed Korean food into the spotlight worldwide. U.S. supermarkets saw gim products vanish from shelves after going viral. Lee Eunhee, a professor, explains, "More people are becoming familiar with gim, increasing global demand. Domestic prices are being pushed up." Local producers like Kim Namin say there aren't enough factories to meet rising international demand and are thinking about expanding. Experts blame inflation, labour costs, and less foreign production for the rise, but agree global demand is a key cause. The South Korean government is working to control prices, with plans for land-based seaweed farms year-round. Meanwhile, sellers enjoy the boom in customers. Lee says, "Gim has been selling like hot cakes... I'm glad Korean gim is getting popular."