- Held for 3 days from Oct. 16 (Fri) to Oct. 18 (Sun) at Cheongju OSCO
- 143 agri-food companies participate, holding market expansion consultations with 70 domestic and international buyers

- Abundant hands-on experiences and events, including making traditional yu-gwa using rice from 11 cities and counties in Chungbuk -

To promote the competitiveness of local agricultural and food products and support market expansion for agri-food enterprises, the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Government is holding the 2nd Chungbuk Agri-Food Industry Fair for three days, from October 16 (Friday) to October 18 (Sunday), in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 at Cheongju OSCO.

This fair is designed as an all-in-one event featuring product exhibitions and sales by local agri-food companies, domestic and international buyer consultations, and a variety of interactive experiences and events. It aims to showcase the excellence of Chungbuk’s agricultural and food products to residents and consumers while fostering balanced growth between regional agriculture and the food industry.

This year's fair features 143 agri-food companies from diverse sectors—including processed foods, traditional foods, traditional liquors, and startups—showcasing the vibrant flavors of Chungbuk. Visitors can directly examine, taste, and purchase high-quality agricultural and food products produced by local companies right on-site.

In particular, the fair operates beyond simple exhibition and sales, serving as a business-driven expo that supports the practical market expansion of agri-food companies. Leveraging the participation of 70 total buyers—40 domestic and 30 overseas—Chungbuk Province plans to facilitate 1:1 consultations between companies and buyers to help discover new clients and advance into domestic and global markets.

At last year's inaugural fair, domestic and international buyer consultation sessions yielded a total of 505 consultations worth 58.2 billion KRW (approx. 56.2 billion KRW), leading to 16 business agreements (MOUs) worth 6.35 billion KRW. Building on these achievements, Chungbuk Province intends to run this year’s consultation sessions even more thoroughly to ensure tangible business outcomes for local agri-food companies.

The opening ceremony will feature a special performance of making yu-gwa (traditional Korean puffed rice snacks) using rice produced in the 11 cities and counties of the province. Under the theme "11 Cities and Counties of Chungbuk, Creating a Single Taste," the process of regional rices combining into a single dish will be showcased, conveying the message of connection between Chungbuk's agriculture and food industry, as well as regional coexistence.

A rich lineup of interactive programs and events is also prepared for family visitors. Various hands-on programs will be operated, including making bellflower (doraji) syrup and kkot-sanbyeong (flower rice cakes) with a Master of Korean Food, children's agri-food making, pressed-flower keyrings, paper pots, and keycap making. Participating corporate brand days and lucky draw events will also be held, offering exciting prizes such as gold bars and Korean beef sets to bring joy to visitors.

Yong Mi-suk, Director-General of the Agriculture Policy Bureau of Chungbuk Province, stated, "This fair is an opportunity to widely promote Chungbuk's outstanding agricultural and food products to residents and consumers, and for local agri-food companies to meet domestic and international buyers to open up new sales channels. We will actively support agriculture and the food industry to grow together and help Chungbuk agri-food products move beyond domestic borders into the global market."

Meanwhile, the 2nd Chungbuk Agri-Food Industry Fair will be held for three days from October 16 (Fri) to October 18 (Sun) in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 at Cheongju OSCO, with operating hours from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. Admission and parking are entirely free, and any provincial resident is welcome to visit without burden to discover Chungbuk's diverse agricultural and food products and enjoy a rich array of hands-on activities and events.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]