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South Korea is advancing a strategy to capture a leading position in the premium sesame oil market through a domestically developed sesame variety that delivers roughly three times the antioxidant content of imported or conventional seeds, paired with a new perilla variety whose plant-based omega-3 content has been pushed to 66 percent. The dual-track approach aims to differentiate Korean products from low-cost foreign imports while lifting farm productivity and processing efficiency.
The Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced on Wednesday that it has developed two high-lignan sesame varieties, 'Seulgi' and 'Roum', along with a high-omega-3 perilla variety named 'Jian', and is moving to scale up their distribution and commercialization.
The sesame varieties contain 13 to 14 milligrams of lignan per gram, approximately three times the 4 to 5 milligrams found in imported and conventional sesame. Lignan is sesame's signature antioxidant compound, and earlier RDA research confirmed that it can improve long-term memory while protecting and regenerating nerve cells. Because lignan is oil-soluble, the compound is retained in the oil after pressing.
Yield performance is also stronger. 'Seulgi' and 'Roum' produce 130 to 150 kilograms per 10 ares, representing a 6 to 8 percent uplift over 'Geonbaek', the most widely grown domestic variety. 'Roum' in particular features pods that resist splitting at harvest, enabling combine harvesting and reducing labor dependency.
The perilla variety 'Jian' contains about 66 percent alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, compared with 62 to 64 percent in the existing varieties 'Dayu' and 'Deulsaem'. ALA is an essential fatty acid that the human body cannot synthesize and must obtain through the diet. Prior RDA studies have indicated that it can help protect damaged brain cells and support learning and memory.
'Jian' also delivers superior productivity and processing economics. It yields 142 kilograms per 10 ares, an 8 percent increase over 'Dayu', while its oil extraction rate reaches 33.3 percent, a 3.4 percentage point improvement.
The RDA is translating these breeding gains into commercial production. This year it established pilot cultivation complexes covering 14 hectares of sesame and 13 hectares of perilla across Andong and Jinju in North and South Gyeongsang Province, and Gochang in North Jeolla Province. In July, the agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Andong and a major edible-oil processor to anchor downstream commercialization.
A premium sesame oil derived from 'Seulgi' is scheduled to launch in the second half of this year. The RDA is also collaborating with a processor on a plant-based omega-3 capsule product made from 'Jian'.
Seed distribution is set to expand. 'Roum', which supports machine harvesting, will be supplied to farms through the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs beginning in 2027. The RDA plans to produce about 1 metric ton of seed next year, enough to plant roughly 330 hectares. For 'Seulgi' and 'Jian', 50 kilograms of seed each will be secured this year, with distribution starting next year and prioritized according to processor demand and major growing regions.
Overseas demand for Korean sesame and perilla oil is also on the rise. Sesame oil exports climbed 28 percent last year compared with the previous year, and in the first half of this year exports reached 8.43 million U.S. dollars, a record high for the period.
«By commercializing the new sesame and perilla varieties, we have laid the groundwork to sharpen the distinction from cheap foreign imports and raise the value of our traditional oils,» said Kim Byeong-seok, director of the RDA's National Institute of Crop Science. «Through seed distribution, expansion of production complexes and industry partnerships, we will increase farm income and strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean oils.»
Source: Herald Korea