The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently organized a consumer testing competition in Korea, inspired by the standardized tests used in the college admissions process in the US. The goal of the competition, known as the U.S. Steak Ability Test, was to promote the quality of U.S. beef and pork steaks in the Korean market. The event spanned over two weeks and attracted 2,369 participants who competed to become recognized as a Korean “steak master.”

The competition began with a preliminary round conducted through an online survey platform. Participants were educated on the quality attributes of high-quality red meat and were tested on the sustainability and production values of grain-fed U.S. beef and pork. The top 34 scorers from the preliminary round advanced to the final round of the competition.

The final round of the U.S. Steak Ability Test was a festive event that included a steak cooking show and blindfold tastings conducted by Chef Raymond Kim, a renowned expert in steaks. Chef Kim, known for his expertise and his involvement in a popular Netflix cooking show in Korea, demonstrated the best cooking techniques for US beef sirloin steak with oriental chimichurri sauce and US pork collar butt steak with mushroom cream sauce. The final test consisted of blind tastings and written questions related to meat cut identification, tenderness, flavor, and cooking techniques.

USMEF collaborated with influencer Maso Kim, who has over 500,000 followers, and media outlet METIZEN, with 86,000 followers, to promote the competition and its results. The support for the promotion of the event was provided by the National Pork Board, as well as funding from the USDA through the Market Access Program and Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.

Overall, the U.S. Steak Ability Test in Korea was a successful initiative by the USMEF to showcase the quality of U.S. beef and pork steaks to the Korean consumers. Through engaging competitions and informative events, the USMEF was able to educate consumers about the attributes of high-quality red meat and promote the sustainability and production values of U.S. beef and pork. The collaboration with influencers and media outlets helped to amplify the reach of the event, generating interest and excitement among consumers in Korea.

For more information about the U.S. Steak Ability Test and other initiatives by the USMEF, please visit their website at www.usmef.org.