Chungcheongnam-do Province has ignited new hope for South Korea and its regional economy by significantly expanding market channels for promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the United States, the very epicenter of the global tariff storm.

The province announced on the 21st that it achieved a total of $38.41 million in contract signings by participating in the ‘2025 World Korean Business Convention’ held in Atlanta, USA, from the 17th to the 20th.

The World Korean Business Convention, hosted by the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, is a large-scale international economic event with the participation of over 400 companies, 500 local buyers, and 5,000 Korean businesspeople.

For this convention, the province dispatched 30 promising SMEs and institutions from within Chungcheongnam-do – including 12 from Cheonan, 6 from Asan, 2 each from Boryeong, Dangjin, Geumsan, and Seocheon, and 1 each from Seosan, Nonsan, Cheongyang, and Yesan – to operate the Chungnam Pavilion. All staff members of the Chungcheongnam-do America Office provided on-site support to these companies.

These enterprises showcased Chungnam’s specialty products such as red ginseng, seasoned seaweed, and salted shrimp, along with cosmetics, K-pop merchandise, secondary battery production equipment, lawn care robots, and medical imaging diagnostic systems. Through overseas buyer matching and export consultations, they actively targeted the global market.

On the first day of the convention, the 17th, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Park Jeong-ju visited the exhibition hall to encourage the participating companies and promote the excellent products of the province to Korean businesspeople from around the world.

As a result, the companies from the province conducted a total of 256 export consultations worth $57.41 million and signed 23 export contracts (MOUs) amounting to $38.41 million.

This export MOU figure is 12.8 times the initial target of $3 million.

Notably, Seocheon Slowker, a liquor company producing Hansan Sogokju and other beverages, signed two export MOUs worth $11.3 million.

Furthermore, Daedong Industry from Asan, specializing in eco-friendly plant cultivation systems, secured four export MOUs totaling $10.91 million, and A&Form from Dangjin, a smart construction system company, achieved three export MOUs valued at $10.2 million.

In addition, Geumsan-based Juan Food, a manufacturer of soup-based dishes, signed an MOU for establishing a U.S. factory. Goseurok Food from Seocheon, a food manufacturer, signed an MOU for setting up stores within the U.S., and Boryeong’s Moyeongyangmatkim (flavored seaweed) signed an MOU with a U.S. distributor, laying the groundwork for expanding their presence in the American market.

A provincial official stated, “Compared to the $1 million in MOUs signed by nine companies from our province at the same event held in Orange County, USA, two years ago, this achievement is truly unprecedented. It is analyzed that the excellence of Chungnam products, the continuously high interest in K-products, and the province’s marketing support all contributed comprehensively to this outcome.”

The official added, “Following this convention, the province plans to focus on strengthening connections with North American distribution networks, establishing a constant cooperation system with Korean businesspeople in the U.S., and providing follow-up support for contracts.” 

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