South Korea imported a record amount of cheese last year on rising demand for a westernized diet among local consumers, industry data showed Tuesday.
  

Imports of cheese and curds reached an all-time high of 97,215 tons in 2014, up 14.3 percent from the previous year, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.
  

Cheese imports have been on a rise with an on-year growth of more than 10 percent since 2010, except 2012, the data added.
  

For the first three months of this year, imports of the dairy product soared 26.3 percent on-year to 28,205 tons. It is expected to top 100,000 tons this year.
  

Sales of cheese at local shops were also on a roll as South Koreans have acquired a taste for the dairy good.
  

E-Mart, the biggest retail outlet in South Korea, said it saw this year's cheese sales rise 4 percent on-year through April 23.  
  

Sales of sliced cheese, which is most popular among South Koreans, expanded 3.1 percent on-year over the cited period, according to E-Mart.
  

"A growing number of people tend to eat western dishes and also enjoy Korean food with cheese or other western ingredients," said Shin Won-mo, who in charge of dairy products at E-Mart. (Yonhap)