SSouth Korea's state-run food agency said Wednesday it has launched a mobile application that provides details of local halal restaurants, in line with its efforts to attract more Muslim tourists.

The app, "HALAL Korea," provides various information related to halal foodstuffs in South Korea, including locations of restaurants and supermarkets, the Korea Food Foundation said.

Halal food refers to food products that are prepared in a specific way according to Islamic Sharia law, which covers not only meat but also fruits and vegetables.

The foundation said the number of Muslims visiting South Korea has been increasing every year, reaching 620,000 in 2013, demonstrating a demand for such services.

The app allows Muslims shoppers to scan bar codes to determine whether products are halal-certified. It also provides information about tourist destinations favored by Muslims, as well as locations of prayer rooms and a compass that points toward Mecca.

"The HALAL Korea application will contribute to promote Korean food and tourism in the halal market," the foundation under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.

The service, currently provided in English, is available free of charge on both Google and Apple's app markets.

Amid the rising number of visitors from Indonesia, the service will also be provided in Indonesian by the end of this year. The Arabic edition of the service will also kick off next year. (Yonhap)