‘A World with Natural Products, Meeting a Better Future’
Anticipation Builds for a Global Stage Blending Industry and Culture
At the press conference held at the Korea Press Center on September 4, Kim Younghwan, Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do, and Kim Changgyu, Mayor of Jecheon, are wishing for the successful hosting of the 2025 Jecheon International Herbal and Natural Products Industry Expo.
Chungcheongbuk-do and Jecheon City will host the "2025 Jecheon International Herbal and Natural Products Industry Expo" for one month from September 20 to October 19 at the Hanbang Expo Park and surrounding areas.
Jecheon in Chungcheongbuk-do has long been a center for medicinal herbs and Korean traditional medicine. Continuing the tradition of the Joseon Dynasty's medicinal markets, Jecheon was designated a "Special Zone for Medicinal Herb Well-being" in 2005, marking its leap into a modern herbal medicine industry. Following the successful hosting of the International Herbal Bio Expo in 2010 and 2017, Chungcheongbuk-do has established itself as a hub for the natural products and bio industries.
This year's expo, organized by the 2025 Jecheon International Herbal and Natural Products Industry Expo Organizing Committee, will build on this momentum as an industry-focused expo that aims to lead the future of the global natural products industry. Under the theme "A World with Natural Products, Meeting a Better Future," the expo is expected to present a blueprint for a sustainable, high value-added industry that combines herbal medicine and natural products.
The Natural Products Industry as Chungcheongbuk-do's Future Growth Engine...A B2B-Focused Platform for Global Exchange
The most notable feature of this expo is its focus on B2B. More than 280 companies and over 200 overseas buyers will participate, with large-scale business meetings taking place. Various product categories, including health functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, will seek opportunities to enter the global market. Moving beyond simple exhibitions, the expo aims to become a venue for contracts, exports, and network expansion, positioning Jecheon as a platform connecting not only Asia but also the global market.
Chungcheongbuk-do has defined the natural products industry as a core pillar of the bio industry, rather than merely a traditional sector. Major infrastructure such as seed supply centers, raw material manufacturing bases, and commercialized tissue culture facilities have already been established. Going forward, the province plans to lead the scientific and standardized development of the industry through strengthened R&D, expanded global networks, and advanced industry-academia-research collaboration.
This strategy is seen as a move not only to support the regional industry but also to enhance the international competitiveness of Korea's natural product-based bio industry at a national level. Chungcheongbuk-do aims to develop Jecheon into a global hub city for the natural products industry and expand the industrial impact throughout the province, growing into a worldwide hub.
The organizing committee expects the expo to generate an economic impact of 120.7 billion won in production inducement, 64.7 billion won in added value, and 2,117 jobs. Export contracts worth 23 billion won and on-site sales of 2 billion won are anticipated. The influx of tourists is also expected to revitalize the local economy, including the lodging, tourism, and food service sectors. Beyond economic achievements, 13 international academic conferences will provide opportunities for global researchers and industry professionals to collaborate, further highlighting Jecheon as a "global research and industrial hub for the natural products industry."
Jecheon: Where Tradition Meets Modernity...Five Major Exhibition Halls
This autumn, Jecheon will once again take the global stage. The 2025 Jecheon International Herbal and Natural Products Industry Expo, held from September 20 to October 19, will be an interactive festival open to all, going beyond its industrial role. While the 2010 expo highlighted the roots of the herbal medicine industry and the 2017 event marked a turning point for industrial advancement, the 2025 edition is expected to be a venue where citizens and tourists actively participate and enjoy, blending local culture, arts, and industry into one.
The expo site will feature five main exhibition halls: the Theme Pavilion, Experience Hall, Industry Hall, International Exchange Hall, and Jecheon Yakryeong Market. The Theme Pavilion will showcase the past and future of natural products through media art and immersive videos. The Experience Hall will offer a protein exploration using the VR microscope "Quantum Scope" and provide medical consultation experiences with medical staff from Semyung University Korean Medicine Hospital.
More than 280 domestic and international companies will participate in the Industry Hall and International Exchange Hall. At the Jecheon Yakryeong Market, a modern recreation of the traditional medicinal herb market, visitors can purchase herbs and enjoy tasting and hands-on experiences. In addition, the Herbal Life Science Center, Medicinal Herb and Herb Botanical Garden, and Fermentation Museum have been renovated to offer educational and relaxation spaces. The main sculpture inspired by the DNA double helix and the Yin-Yang Five Elements Color Garden are expected to become popular photo spots for visitors.
A Global Festival with Citizens, Embracing Culture, Performances, and All Generations
The expo will feature daily performances to heighten the festive atmosphere. In addition to opening and closing ceremonies, the Chuseok holiday will see a trot concert, a large-scale traditional play, and a children's musical, creating unforgettable memories for families. Stages featuring popular artists such as Forestella and Yoon Minsoo will deliver special moments to both local residents and tourists.
A variety of programs involving local cultural and artistic organizations and citizens will also be available. Experience booths will offer events such as making medicinal herb flowerpots, traditional games, and herbal cotton candy. The Color Garden will host the 1st Chungcheongbuk-do Garden Expo, where beautifully curated gardens and photo zones created by gardeners will captivate visitors' eyes and hearts.
This expo is significant not only as an industrial exhibition but also as a festival created together with citizens. Jecheon residents will participate as volunteers, guides, and operators of experience programs, becoming the main protagonists of the expo. This further solidifies the symbolism of an international event shaped by the local community. The influx of tourists is expected to boost the local economy, while also raising civic pride and enhancing the city's brand value. Above all, this expo is anticipated to be a turning point for Jecheon to emerge as a "global city specializing in natural products," in a space where tradition and modernity, industry and culture, come together.
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