Annie Chun, the founder of San Rafael, California, U.S.A.-based Gimme Seaweed, has been honored by the Korean government for her contributions to the Asian nation's seafood and seaweed industries.
Chun is the first non-Korean to be honored with the award in 50 years.
Gimme Seaweed Co-Founder and CEO Steve Broad said in a company statement about the news that Chun’s “vision has been pivotal in connecting Korean seaweed to new markets, and this award is a testament to her leadership and dedication.”
The award was given in recognition of Chun’s support of the growth of the Korean seaweed industry, which has expanded dramatically in recent years, topping USD 1 billion (EUR 962 million) in exports in 2024. The U.S. is now the top export market for seaweed from Korea.
Chun is credited with inspiring the Korean government to adopt a seaweed marketing strategy akin to Mexico’s “Avocados from Mexico” initiative and leading the business relationships that have built the U.S. into Korea’s largest seaweed export market.
Chun was also instrumental in influencing the Korean seaweed industry to adopt the sustainable practices that would allow her to market Gimme as the first U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic seaweed snack on the market when she started the brand in 2012. Though seaweed was a traditional Korean side dish, it was not very popular in the U.S. at the time.
Chun’s first business venture was Annie Chun’s, a multi-million-dollar Asian convenience cuisine meal company, which she sold in 2012 to build Gimme with Broad.
