Food Week Korea Opens in Seoul
The four-day exhibition brings about 1,000 food companies and 252 international buyers to Coex in southern Seoul.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Food and Drink
Food Week Korea 2026 opened Wednesday in Seoul, featuring 1,800 booths and participation from 46 countries. The event runs through Saturday at Coex in southern Seoul.
Why it matters
The exhibition connects Korean food producers with overseas buyers, including supermarket and distribution companies from Spain and Japan. About 500 Korean companies are taking part in export consultations.
The exhibition features 1,800 booths and participation from 46 countries, with about 500 Korean food companies in export consultations. Exhibitors are promoting halal- and vegan-certified products, organic processed foods and traditional Korean alcoholic beverages, but the extraction does not report resulting trade volumes.
The players
Mercadona
Mercadona is a Spanish supermarket chain attending the exhibition as an international buyer.
Kobe Bussan
Kobe Bussan is a Japanese food distributor attending the exhibition as an international buyer.
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics is a South Korean technology company whose smart factory program supports several exhibiting companies.
The details
Buyers include Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona and Japanese food distributor Kobe Bussan. Displays feature artificial intelligence, automated production systems, cooking robots and smart kitchen appliances, and companies supported by Samsung Electronics' smart factory program are exhibiting.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Food Week Korea 2026 opens in Seoul.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: The four-day exhibition closes at Coex.
Industry Dynamics
The exhibition highlights automation and smart-factory adoption among Korean food producers, extending the export-oriented push that Korean food companies have pursued through trade consultations. Its emphasis on halal, vegan and organic certifications reflects the certification requirements that shape access to overseas grocery markets.
Food buyers and importers looking to source Korean products can use the exhibition's one-on-one meetings and export consultations to make contact with producers. Exhibitors' halal, vegan and organic certifications indicate which products may fit specific dietary and market requirements.
The takeaway
Exhibitions like Food Week Korea give international buyers direct access to a large number of producers in one place. Buyers evaluating new suppliers may benefit from comparing certification status and export readiness across exhibitors.
Further reading
For more on global food and drink trends, see the Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Korea Herald.
