Food Week Korea 2026 opens at COEX with 963 companies from 47 countries

Food Week Korea 2026 opened Nov. 4 at COEX in Seoul with 1,622 booths and exhibitors from 47 countries, putting food innovation, K-Food exports and smart food tech on display. The four-day event runs through Nov. 7 and is designed to help Korean companies meet buyers, expand overseas and spot new consumer trends.

Why it matters: - Food Week Korea is positioned as the largest comprehensive food exhibition in the second half of the year. - The show gives Korean food companies a venue to meet domestic and overseas buyers and pursue sales channels. - The event also spotlights food tech, smart solutions and export opportunities as the industry faces changing consumer demand.

What happened: - Food Week Korea 2026, the 21st Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition, is running Nov. 4-7 at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. - COEX and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs organized the event. - The exhibition includes 963 companies from 47 countries and 1,622 booths. - The opening ceremony took place Nov. 4 on the third-floor main stage of Hall C. - About 100 people attended, including ministry, aT and COEX officials, industry figures and press.

The details: - The theme is “Innovation Becomes the Norm.” - The exhibition covers food and consumption trends in Korea and abroad, plus restaurant and institutional catering technologies. - Vice Minister Kim Jong-gu said K-Food has become a cultural content driver for Korea’s national brand value. - Kim said the exhibition is intended to help Korean food companies enter global markets and showcase future food innovation, including food tech. - Acting President Changguk Kim of aT said government-private cooperation is needed to help Korean food companies expand sales channels and overseas markets. - After the ceremony, VIPs toured Hall C, Hall B, Hall A and The Platz. - Buddhist monk and temple food expert Seonjae delivered a keynote lecture titled “Insights on Sustainability and the Value of Food.” - The lecture focused on sustainable food culture, the food industry under climate crisis conditions and the future direction of K-Food. - Awards recognizing contributions to the food and restaurant industry were presented at the event. - Heesook Cho, CEO of Hansik Gonggan, received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for work in traditional Korean food and training skilled professionals. - A total of 31 government honors were presented, including four Industrial Service Medals and seven presidential commendations. - At the Otoki booth, visitors sampled Hangang Ramyeon cooked in a Cookinpaper instant cooking machine. - Seasonal Pairing House featured Paldo’s Gukmul Rabokki with watermelon radish pairing dishes, Samyang Foods’ Tangle protein pasta and Nongshim’s low-calorie Noodle Fit. - BATT CORP showed potato bread under its Chuncheon-based Gamjabat brand. - Daegok Co., Ltd. presented strawberry cream rice cake made with strawberries from Miryang. - Hall A includes the K-Food Pavilion and products from the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including jams, spreads, butter and chocolate mousse from six companies. - Dr. Chung’s Food presented two nutrition-care and sugar-care drinks. - Hyundai Green Food showed life-stage care foods, from custom lunch boxes to meals for specific conditions.

Between the lines: - The hall layout signals where the industry sees growth: domestic and international products in Hall A, premium and lifestyle-driven foods in Hall B, and export-oriented K-Food plus automation in Hall C. - The emphasis on sugar control, low calories, protein and health care foods shows a market that is still chasing taste, but increasingly balancing that with wellness. - The buyer meetings and export consultations suggest the exhibition is being used as a trade platform, not just a consumer showcase. - The planned MOU to expand exports of fresh produce such as strawberries points to a push for concrete deal-making during the event.

What's next: - Exhibitors will continue one-to-one listing meetings with MD buyers to discuss retail entry and sales strategies by channel. - The K-Food Buyer Invitation Export Consultation (BKF+) will continue to connect promising Korean food companies with overseas markets. - The second-half 2026 K-FOOD+ Overseas Buyer Invitation Export Consultation, Global Big Buyer Zone and Overseas Exhibitor BIZ-Matching will hold more export meetings with global retailers and major buyers. - Food Week Korea runs through Saturday, Nov. 7, at COEX and in conference rooms connected to the exhibition. - The organizers say the event is intended to show how new foods and technologies are changing both consumers’ tables and industrial sites.

The bottom line: - Food Week Korea 2026 is using scale, global participation and buyer meetings to turn a food exhibition into a business engine for K-Food, food tech and exports.