The 25th Daegu International Food Industry Fair opens at Daegu EXCO, drawing attention from overseas buyers thanks to the K-culture craze.

225 companies and 426 booths participated, covering the entire K-FOOD industry, from tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) to seaweed and food machinery.

Daegu EXCO announced that the 25th Daegu International Food Industry Exhibition (K-FOOD EXPO 2025), representing the Korean food industry, will be held for four days from the 3rd to the 6th.

Considered one of Korea's top three food exhibitions, the 25th Daegu International Food Industry Exhibition has recently seen a surge in interest from international buyers, fueled by the popularity of Korean food, particularly the rise of "K-POP Demon Hunters."

This year's exhibition will feature 225 companies and 426 booths, bringing together domestic and international participants and buyers to share the excitement of K-food. With growing global demand for Hallyu staples like tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) and gim (seaweed), leading local companies like Youngpoong and Samcheop Bunsik (CGF) will participate to explore export opportunities.

This year's exhibition, selected as a government-funded project, is expected to see increased buyer participation and significantly expand global market opportunities for participating companies.

The unique joint pavilion operation is also noteworthy. The Daegu Chicken and Beer Industry Association, Dalbit Joint Pavilion, Dalseong Sanghoe, the Small and Medium Business Food Tech Association, and overseas exhibitors have collaborated to showcase diverse food trends in one place.

In addition to agricultural, fishery, livestock, and forestry products, processed foods, organic and health functional foods, liquor and beverages, and desserts, this year's exhibition also saw a significant increase in participation from food machinery companies. Participating companies such as Heins, Sunkyung Industrial, and Young Tech Pack are particularly noteworthy, and the exhibition has expanded to include food industry infrastructure, including packaging and processing machinery and advanced automated factories.

This year's expo has significantly strengthened its export and purchase consultation programs to ensure tangible results for participating companies. The export consultation for overseas buyers will feature 66 overseas buyers, offering FDA and FSSC certification support and logistics consulting. The purchase consultation for domestic distributors (MD) will feature domestic buyers from approximately 20 distributors, including hypermarkets and online malls.

Son Tae-sik, Director of EXCO Exhibition Hall 1, emphasized, “Last year, nearly half of the participating companies signed contracts or had additional meetings after consultations. This year, both the scale and quality have been strengthened.”

The exhibition hall features a Smart Food Tech Hall, a Food Automation Equipment Hall, and an AI-based Production Technology Hall, offering visitors a glimpse into the latest trends in the food industry. Furthermore, events such as a School Lunch Nutrition Seminar and an FDA Response Strategy Seminar will provide a platform for industry-academia-government cooperation.

Participatory programs such as on-site tastings, stamp events, and receipt events will also be held, providing a rich experience for both industry professionals and general visitors.

Jeon Chun-woo , CEO of EXCO, stated, “With the popularity of Korean culture, overseas demand for K-food is rapidly increasing. This year’s exhibition will attract the largest number of overseas buyers and trading companies ever, leading to tangible export results and expanded sales channels.”

He added, “We will do our best to establish Daegu as a global food industry hub.”

Exhibitor Data Sheet