Global Buyers from 42 Countries Gather at BKF+ for Trade Deals of K-Food and Related Products

Sejong, 7 November 2025 — From 29 to 31 October, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) hosted Buy Korean Food+ (BKF+), a trade fair for K-Food and products from related industries, at Coex in Seoul, in conjunction with Food Week Korea 2025, the largest food exhibition.

K-Food Plus (K-Food+) refers to a combination of (a) agri-food products (K-Food) and (b) the products from the agro-industry (e.g. smart farms, agricultural equipment, pet food, veterinary medical products, etc.). Agri-food products mean non-processed agricultural produce and processed food products, excluding aquatic food products.

The trade fair brought together 316 companies from 42 countries, including 89 overseas buyers and 227 Korean exporters. The participating companies had a total of 1,649 one-on-one buyers-exporters meetings, which generated an estimated USD 110 million in potential contracts. Also, 35 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, worth approximately USD 12 million—a 30 percent increase from the previous year’s USD 9 million.

The agri-food sector accounted for 28 MoUs valued at USD 8 million, which covered food products such as tteokbokki, dumplings, makgeolli, grapes, and ginseng. The restaurant sector achieved 3 MoUs worth USD 1 million, which covered Korean snacks and pork cutlets. The agro-industry had 4 MoUs totaling USD 3 million, which covered vertical farming solutions.

Exporters of Korean agri-food products showcased a wide range of food products reflecting global consumer trends—from precooked frozen kimbap, which is gaining a growing popularity through the rise of Korean content, to low-sugar chicken sauces tailored to international health trends.

At the trade fair, the restaurant sector featured “galbi” (grilled ribs) listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey, Korea’s leading dining guide, as well as a major fried chicken franchiser operating more than 700 stores worldwide, which drew strong interest from global buyers. 

A Korean exporter of fresh produce such as pears, grapes, and mushrooms said: “After having an online buyers-exporters meeting with a Mexican buyer in August, I concluded an export contract worth USD 1 million with the buyer at this event. This success was made possible because the government worked together with exporters as a one team in discovering new markets and provided support for K-Food exporters.”

A buyer from a large retailer in the Republic of Indonesia said: “K-Food products such as ramyeon and tteokbokki are becoming increasingly popular among Indonesian consumers, who have high demand for halal food products. Through this fair, I was delighted to discover a variety of Korean-produced halal food products such as stir-fried noodles, konjac jellies, and fruit-vegetable juice.”

H.E. Song Miryung, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Global interest in K-Food is continuing to grow, and the global status of K-Food is rising as well. K-Food is now evolving beyond cuisine into a global brand. This trade fair will lay the foundation for Korean exporters to further diversify their markets. It will also serve as an opportunity for K-Food to have a stronger position in the global market.”