The NS Food Festa 2026, the largest food culture festival in South Korea, opened on October 16 at Harim First Kitchen in Iksan, North Jeolla Province.
Now in its 19th year, the festival is co-hosted by NS Home Shopping and Iksan City, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Harim Group. Approximately 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the two-day event, which runs until October 17.
The highlight of the festival is the national cooking competition, featuring 120 teams competing for top honors. On the opening day, 60 teams in the general category showcased their skills in a 60-minute cooking challenge themed around 'the best recipes using fresh ingredients.' The recipes presented will be evaluated with an eye toward future meal kit commercialization, and the winning team will receive a prize of 30 million won. On October 17, a family category competition with 60 teams will take place, along with the 'Samsamhan Cooking Competition,' organized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which promotes reducing sodium and sugar intake.
The event also features a variety of exhibitions and experiential spaces. The 'Fresh Market,' involving major subsidiaries of the Harim Group such as Harim, Seonjin, Farmsco, Juwon Duck, and Hangang Foods, offers special sales. A pop-up zone for the fresh food delivery platform ODD GROCER showcases demonstrations of chicken deboning and offers food items like chicken skewers and fried eggs. Homeplus Express, recently integrated into the Harim Group, has also set up a brand zone for franchise consultations and business direction.
A tour program allows visitors to explore the 36,000-pyeong Harim First Kitchen, where they can observe the production lines for gourmet ramen and instant rice, guided by professional narrators.
The festival also features engaging activities with renowned chefs and culinary masters. On the first day, Chef Ahn Yoo-sung, known from Netflix's 'Chef's Table,' conducted a cooking show using local specialties to prepare chilled buckwheat noodles. Additionally, Shin Seung-joo, Iksan's first kimchi master, led a hands-on experience making cucumber-stuffed kimchi with chicken breast. The second day will include a special lecture by broadcaster Seo Kyung-seok, a cooking class using Harim products, and the 'Challenge! Food Golden Bell' event.
Moreover, booths for local farmers and youth enterprises are set up. The 'Youth Startup Festa 2026,' Iksan's legacy restaurant promotion hall, and a local food sales area are operating together, with live commerce selling Iksan's top sweet potatoes, ginger lemon syrup, and roasted eggs sequentially.
The opening ceremony was attended by Iksan Mayor Choi Jeong-ho, Minister of Food and Drug Safety Oh Yu-kyung, Iksan City Council Chairman Kim Chung-young, Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-guk, and NS Home Shopping CEO Jo Hang-mok.
Kim Hong-guk, chairman of the Harim Group, stated, "Hosting a food festival in Iksan every year is not an easy task, but I feel rewarded by the many visitors and their interest. We have prepared a rich program this year, and I ask for your continued support."
Jo Hang-mok, CEO of NS Home Shopping, remarked, "The competitiveness of K-food comes not only from excellent manufacturing technology but also from the local food culture and the passion of those who challenge new flavors. We aim to develop this festival into an event where producers, businesses, and consumers together shape the future of the food industry."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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