Korean  vegetable oils include sesame oil made from sesame seeds and perilla oil made from perilla seeds. Sesame oil is renowned for its excellent antioxidant properties, while perilla oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit digestion and boost metabolism. In particular, raw perilla oil has been shown to enhance gastrointestinal function and improve blood circulation. Perilla seeds are more sensitive to heat and have a nuttier flavor than sesame seeds under the same conditions. The value and functionality of these traditional Korean oils are being rediscovered, and products are being modernized and upgraded to meet contemporary tastes and needs. As a result, the number of export destinations for these oils is growing. Notable domestic sesame oil products include Ottogi’s “Sesame Oil,” Changchang Food’s “Friendly Park Seobang,” CJ CheilJedang’s “100% Whole Perilla Oil,” and Komega’s “Non-Roasted, Cold-Pressed Raw Perilla Oil.”

Komega is a market-leader that is revitalizing and exporting domestic perilla oil by modernizing traditional raw perilla oilmaking. In April 2003, CEO Jeong Hoon-baek produced Korea’s first conventional cold-pressed raw perilla oil. This oil is produced by pressing perilla seeds in their natural form, without roasting, resulting in a soft and clear oil that retains the natural flavor of the seeds. From 2007 to 2009, CEO Jeong focused on establishing standards for perilla oil as a traditional food product. In September 2012, it won a gold medal at the World Oil Test in France, opening the door for exports to Europe. In addition, it was awarded the iTQi Oil Taste Award for six consecutive years from 2016 to 2022.

CEO Jeong is dedicated to raising international awareness of Korean raw perilla oil and has participated continuously in the Taiwan Food Expo for the past ten years. These efforts have led to Korean raw perilla oil becoming the first Korean food product to be certified as a “functionally declared food” in Japan. The product received functional certification for its effectiveness in treating high blood pressure and was introduced in a pharmacy chain in Shizuoka, Japan. Komega’s raw perilla oil was first exported to Japan in 2008, followed by exports to Taiwan and Singapore in 2015. In 2022, the company expanded its export destinations to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Russia. Approximately 40% of their total sales are exported to Japan, Taiwan, Russia, Malaysia, the United States, and Singapore. Changchang Food, established in 2020 and specializing in cold-pressed sesame and perilla oils, exported “Friendly Park Seobang” products to the United States in November 2022 and August 2023.

Bangyudang Co., Ltd. is a famous producer and supplier of premium traditional oils. The parents of Son Min-jeong, the CEO of Bangyudang, established an oil restaurant in Jeonju Jungang Market in 1976, which Son subsequently assumed control of in 2012. The company is committed to developing flavor-centered oils that harmonize taste and nutrition. To guarantee consistent quality, they introduced a dedicated roasting device and developed a savory scale (BGST) to accommodate the distinctive characteristics of each sesame and perilla oil. The BGST categorizes oils based on their roasting level: level 1 is for lightly roasted perilla oil, level 2 is for lightly roasted sesame oil, level 3 is for roasted perilla oil, and level 4 is for sesame oil. Bangyudang has enhanced and diversified the design and quality of these traditional oils to align with premium standards. Recently, they opened a new restaurant specializing in vegetable oils and a flagship store for their oil products.