King Crab Market of South Korea
Most of the king crabs whether red, blue or golden that access the South Korea market originate from Russia.
There are small portions of Norway and USA(Alaska) king crabs that access the South Korea Market but most of the king crabs in South Korea are imported from Russia.
For Russia, South Korea is the closest foreign country where Russia king crabs could be exported fresh.
Hansaki king crab(spiny king crab) also access the Korean market from Japan or Russia. Like most countries that enjoy king crab, the demand of king crab is the highest at the end of the year along with the Christmas season through Lunar new year as many family gatherings take place.
Determining factors of the price of king crabs in South Korea
Like all seafood, the seafood market of Japan and China affects the prices of king crabs in South Korea. King crab suppliers tend to export or ship their king crabs to whichever country can offer the highest value for their product.
Red king crab import into South Korea peaks at the end of the year through the winter until March where the fishing season of red king crabs mostly close.
Although it isn’t the fishing season, blue king crabs tend to enter the South Korea market between March and August as the rivaling red king crab supply is low so the prices of blue king crab are higher than usual as demand increases. Golden king crabs tend to enter the South Korea market with consistency.
Why you should eat king crabs at South Korea
King crabs are very expensive seafood ingredients in most countries. King crab prices are lower in Russia and Alaska ports but fishermen also know that their catch are prime value.
For example, Gordon Ramsay introduced the Alaskan Red King Crab, one of the highest quality red king crab in MasterChef season 10 in 2019 at a price of 500 dollars.
To be honest the prime highest quality king crabs don’t reach South Korea, however king crabs with good quality at affordable prices that are fresh alive access the South Korea market.
For example, hanasaki king crabs are mostly consumed in Japan and the taste is outstanding but the prime quality hanasaki king crab rarely enter Korean market as they are all consumed in Japan.
In other Asian countries or around the world, it is difficult to transport king crabs fresh alive because they live in icy cold waters.
The prices of king crabs also range in a good 40,000 KRW ~ 150,000 KRW (price depends on size and quality) that is high but still compared with other countries, very affordable.
Also King crab innards with rice and sesame oil is a delicacy only you can find in South Korea.
Why did my king crab turn black
It is in fact normal for king crabs to turn black and this doesn’t mean that the king crab has gone bad. There are several theories on why king crabs turn black, however it is natural for all crustaceans to turn black when they are exposed to air for too long.
There isn’t much research conducted on why crustaceans like king crabs turn black, however most believe that the high oxygen affinity of hemocyanin, the main blue pigment of crustacean blood contribute to this blackening effect.
One theory suggests that by enzymatic activities, hydrogen sulfide is produced that dehydrates the carbon backbone of crustaceans that make it black (think of coal and a pencil, the carbon molecules make the black color)
One theory suggests that iron sulfide molecules create the black color while another suggests that melanin is produced by crustacean enzymes. Yet the exact reason why king crabs and crustaceans turn black is unknown. Although it may look unpleasant, the king crab hasn’t gone bad yet. D
King Crab Innards – King Crab Butter
Draining the blood of king crabs is also important to maximize the flavor and the delicacy of king crabs. However, the intestines of king crabs are a bit watery even if the blood and body fluids are properly drained compared with opillio snow crabs.
Crustaceans don’t have a separate pancreas and liver and they have an organ system called a hepatopancreas that functions both as a pancreas and liver. King crabs have an especially large hepatopancreas that consists most of its innards.
The taste and flavor of the king crab intestines, king crab butter come from this hepatopancereas(and some portions of gonads). Hepatopancreas don’t only taste good but due to their large size, king crab hepatopancreas are subject for research as they are rich in metabolites and enzymes.
If you think crab liver is weird, think of foie gras, the hepatopancreas of the king crab also has a concentrated flavor of king crab that is irresistible once you taste it.
Weird eggs found in king crab
Unlike other crabs, king crabs have an abdominal flap that covers their belly. King crabs would keep their eggs in this abdominal flap and this abdominal flap is also edible.
You must remove the intestines connected with the king crab before consuming the abdominal flap. Also, king crabs have a larger gap between its shell and its carcass that would open up during life activities of the king crab.
Many ocean organisms and fish like the salmon snailfish tend to lay eggs in this abdominal flap, gaps of the carcass and the shell and gills of the king crabs.
Thus, there might be weird parasite like eggs found in your king crab, but these are also totally normal and doesn’t cause harm to humans. You could simply remove these and enjoy your king crab.
Phylogeny of king crabs
In terms of phylogeny, king crabs are more related to hermit crabs rather than true crabs. King crabs were moved to the superfamily Paguroidea that include hermit crabs while crabs fall into the Brachyura.
