At the 15th Smart Tech Korea (STK 2026) held on June 10 at COEX in Seoul, an artificial intelligence (AI) vision camera meticulously inspected walnut cakes on a conveyor belt for defects. A robotic arm then skillfully selected the defective cakes, showcasing how Hakhwa Walnut Cake, with its 90-year tradition, has transformed into an autonomous factory driven by data.
As AI transformation becomes a key topic in the industry, K-Food is actively adopting smart manufacturing technologies to keep pace with these changes. The government is leading this initiative by forming a collaborative front with the private sector to drive manufacturing innovation. The K-Food Smart Manufacturing Alliance, launched by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is at the forefront of this effort.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on June 16, the K-Food Smart Manufacturing Alliance is a large national representative council that brings together major food companies, small manufacturers, and smart technology firms that will serve as their brains. The launch ceremony took place at the Smart Tech Korea (STK 2026) event on June 10.
During the launch, Minister Han Seung-sook proposed a "collaborative manufacturing innovation model" focused on sectors and processes to promote the digital transformation of the food industry. She stated, "We will focus on alleviating the burdens of small food companies in building manufacturing data and securing specialized personnel, creating an environment where AI can be easily utilized on-site."
Participants outlined five policies through a declaration: enhancing global competitiveness through K-Food manufacturing AI transformation, promoting data and AI-based manufacturing innovation, expanding cooperation among manufacturers, technology firms, and support organizations, focusing on practical demonstrations and results, and leading the AI transformation across South Korea's manufacturing sector.
Companies that have proven the potential for K-Food's global leap through AX innovation received positive responses. Hakhwa Walnut Cake introduced its core technology, an "autonomous control operating system" through a smart factory automation system. This system allows AI to recognize temperature, humidity, and dough viscosity in real-time to find the optimal process autonomously.
CJ OliveNetworks, which is sketching the vast blueprint for K-Food smart factories, presented its "intelligent autonomous factory" solution, which goes beyond simple automation. AI guidelines have been integrated into all processes, from production planning to logistics and packaging.
Meanwhile, Minister Han, who has been nominated as the Prime Minister candidate, showed great interest by touring the exhibition and examining AI-based food processing machinery.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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