The largest food industry fair in South Korea, 'Food Week Korea 2026,' has secured export contracts worth $14 million.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on November 11 that the event, held from November 4 to 7 at COEX in Seoul, achieved record participation and export results. Approximately 1,000 food companies from 46 countries and 252 buyer companies participated this year. A total of 1,622 booths were set up, attracting around 56,000 visitors, including general attendees and buyers.
This year's fair emphasized strengthening business-to-business (B2B) interactions. During the three-day business consultation sessions, a total of 2,937 consultations took place. Additionally, 47 contracts worth $14 million were signed on-site, marking an 18% increase compared to last year.
International buyers showed significant interest not only in finished products but also in ingredients linked to Korean cuisine, such as bulgogi marinade. Representatives from major U.S. food service and distribution companies noted the potential for introducing Korean sauces and ingredients into local institutional food service and dining markets, engaging in discussions with domestic companies on specific supply strategies.
Exports of fresh produce and traditional liquors also saw remarkable success. The on-site contract value for fresh fruits and vegetables, including grapes and strawberries, as well as Korean alcoholic beverages, reached approximately $8 million, a 515% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding was signed for a pilot project on exporting high-quality strawberries to expand fresh produce exports.
In September, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs set a K-Food+ export target of $16 billion for this year and announced strategies to expand exports in the second half of the year. K-Food+ encompasses not only agricultural products but also smart farms and agricultural equipment. As of the end of July, cumulative exports reached $8.32 billion, a 5.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
On the final day of the event, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung visited the venue to listen to exporters' concerns and examine promising food tech products. Minister Song stated, 'K-Food is at a golden time to capture the taste of people worldwide and expand its global food territory,' adding, 'We will spare no policy and diplomatic support to help our food companies make a strong leap onto the global stage.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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