Korea’s organic food industry is making a global impact at Biofach 2025, the world’s largest organic trade fair. With $18.49 million in export deals and overwhelming buyer interest, K-Organic is emerging as a major player in the international market.
Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s organic food industry is making waves on the global stage, securing significant export opportunities at Biofach 2025, the world’s largest organic trade fair, held in Nuremberg, Germany, from February 11 to 14.
The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS), led by Director Park Sung-woo, supported a delegation of South Korean organic food companies at the prestigious event. As a result, South Korean firms engaged in 201 export consultations with 165 international buyers, leading to a projected $18.49 million in export agreements.
Biofach, a premier international exhibition for organic food, drew 2,300 exhibitors from 94 countries and welcomed 35,000 buyers from 140 nations. This year marked South Korea’s first government-led initiative to showcase the country’s organic food sector at the event.
A total of eight carefully selected South Korean organic food companies, including Doyoung Kwon Aloe, participated in the exhibition. NAQS played a key role in securing booth rentals, exhibition setup, customs clearance for products, interpreters, promotional materials, and pre-arranged meetings with international buyers.
Originally, 20 buyers were scheduled for consultations with South Korean companies, but interest in K-Organic Foods surged, attracting 165 buyers for export discussions. This overwhelming response signals strong demand for Korean organic food products in global markets.
South Korea’s presence at Biofach 2025 was further strengthened through the Korea Pavilion, a collaborative effort with the Korean Organic Agricultural Promotion Fund (KOAPF). This dedicated exhibition space introduced global buyers and visitors to a diverse selection of Korean organic products, ranging from traditional beverages like barley tea and green tea latte to innovative offerings such as rice-based baby snacks, sweet potato snacks, and organic soju.
Visitors also had the opportunity to sample pear and bellflower root tea, sword bean tea, and rice syrup, which received an overwhelmingly positive response. The live tasting sessions became a major attraction, drawing strong interest from international buyers, many of whom expressed serious intent to source these products for their respective markets. Additionally, inquiries extended beyond the showcased items, with buyers showing a keen interest in organic ginseng powder and chili powder, further highlighting the growing global demand for Korean organic foods.
To further support the international expansion of Korean organic food companies, NAQS has been actively implementing various initiatives aimed at strengthening the industry’s global reach. This includes the establishment of the Korea Organic Food Export Council, which plays a central role in coordinating export strategies and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders.
In addition, NAQS has been organizing overseas export consultation meetings and facilitating online export matchmaking programs, ensuring that Korean organic food producers can connect with international buyers efficiently. These efforts are expected to accelerate the industry’s export growth and solidify its position in the competitive global organic market.
Recognizing the pivotal role of exports in advancing Korea’s organic agriculture sector, NAQS Director Park Sung-woo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive support. He emphasized that NAQS will continue to drive the international expansion of Korean organic food products through a combination of online and offline trade initiatives. Furthermore, leveraging organic equivalency agreements with key markets will be a strategic focus to ensure smoother entry into global retail channels.
As South Korea’s organic food sector gains international momentum, the concept of "K-Organic" is beginning to establish itself as a recognizable global trend, much like K-Pop and K-Beauty. With rising consumer interest in sustainable and health-conscious food options, Korean organic brands are poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of the industry.
The growing demand for these products underscores not only their high quality but also their potential to drive the expansion of South Korea’s organic agricultural sector on a global scale.
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