Gwangju Food Expo Attracts Record-High 18,000 Visitors

Export Consultations Reach 18 Billion Won, MOUs Worth 830 Million Won Signed
Domestic Distribution Consultations Total 10 Billion Won, Venture Capital Consultations Reach 7.7 Billion Won

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong attended the opening ceremony of the "2025 Gwangju Food Expo" held at the Kim Daejung Convention Center on the morning of the 29th last month and toured the exhibition hall. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City hosted the "Gwangju Food Expo," the largest food exhibition in the Honam region, attracting a record-breaking 18,452 visitors. The event also achieved significant results, including export consultations worth 18 billion won with 24 overseas buyers and the signing of export MOUs totaling 830 million won.

According to the city on June 5, the "2025 Gwangju Food Expo," held at the Kim Daejung Convention Center over four days until June 1, concluded successfully with 18,452 visitors and buyers attending.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Gwangju Food Expo is the largest food exhibition in the Honam region, serving as an industrial trade show that covers both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.

Under the theme "Sustainable Advancement of Gwangju's Food Industry Together with the Region," more than 300 companies showcased a wide variety of food-related products in over 450 booths, including agricultural and marine products, food machinery, processed and frozen foods, and cafe & bakery items.

To help food companies expand their sales channels, the expo also featured export consultation meetings, domestic distribution consultations, and venture capital investment consultations, providing participating companies with tangible business opportunities.

At the export consultation meetings, 24 overseas buyers from countries including Germany, Singapore, and the Philippines participated, resulting in a total consultation amount of 18 billion won. In addition, six export MOUs worth 830 million won were signed on-site with companies from Japan and Belarus for items such as tea, domestic wheat, and traditional sauces, increasing the likelihood of actual exports.

At the domestic distribution consultations, 24 merchandise managers (MDs) from Korean distribution companies such as Lotte Home Shopping and GS Retail Home Shopping participated, achieving consultation amounts totaling 10 billion won and contributing to the expansion of sales channels for local food companies.

Notably, the venture capital investment consultation, introduced for the first time this year, saw 24 participating companies and five investment firms engage in consultations, recording investment consultations totaling 7.7 billion won and helping lay the foundation for the growth of early-stage startups.

These achievements are also attributed to the change in the expo's timing. Previously held in October, the event overlapped with other food exhibitions, reducing focus on the Gwangju Food Expo, and as it was near the end of the year, companies showed less interest in launching new businesses. Therefore, the city advanced the expo from October to May. This change coincided with the period when participating companies and the distribution industry are seeking new business opportunities, contributing to increased contract results.

In addition, thanks to the pleasant spring weather and the holiday period, the number of visitors increased by 1,044 compared to last year, reaching a record high of 18,452.

During the expo, the "Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa," "Gwangju Tea & Cafe Show," and "G-Festa Spring Plaza Cultural Festival" were held simultaneously, allowing visitors to enjoy a diverse range of events in one place and experience the benefits of a "one stone, four birds" effect.

Various competitions open to both citizens and tourists also attracted many visitors. In the Eco-friendly K-FOOD Startup Cooking Contest, the grand prize in the general category went to the Padoli Team (Jeon Dohee, Jeong Mijin, Oh Yunseo) from Suncheon National University, while the grand prize in the university category was awarded to the Suchansang Team (Hwang Eunchan, Park Sumin, Lee Jungyeop). In particular, the "National Sushi King Competition," hosted by the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korea Chefs Association, chaired by Chef Ahn Yuseong, drew significant attention from visitors and energized the venue.

Joo Jaehee, Director of Economic and Startup Affairs, stated, "It is the role of Gwangju City to support local agri-food companies in expanding their sales channels," adding, "Based on these achievements, we will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of Gwangju's food industry and revitalize the local economy."