Special Fermentation Microorganism Pavilion & Digital Experiences Highlight the Value of the Fermentation Industry
Strengthened Face-to-Face Buyer Consultations, Ranging from Exhibitions and Sales to Family Experiences

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province announced that the "24th Jeonju International Fermentation Food Expo"—featuring 321 companies and institutions from 21 countries worldwide—officially opened on October 22 for a five-run through October 26 around the Jeonju World Cup Stadium area.

Under the theme "Fermentation, the Future of K-FOOD," this year's expo showcases fermentation foods and trends in the food industry from around the globe. It aims to shed light on the traditional value and industrial potential of fermented foods while serving as an exchange platform to promote the excellence of Jeonbuk's agri-food products both domestically and internationally.

The biggest change this year is the special exhibition hall themed around fermentation microorganisms. It features five specialized zones designed to help visitors explore everything from the types of microorganisms and fermentation principles to their applications in the food and green bio industries. In particular, visitors can easily and engagingly understand the invisible world of microorganisms through interactive activities such as microbial drawing scanning and the "Catch Catch Micro-mon" game.

The exhibition halls are organized into various sections—including the Global Agricultural & Life Sciences Pavilion, Leading Products Pavilion, Marine & Fisheries Pavilion, and Win-Win Foods Pavilion—showcasing outstanding domestic fermented foods, products from leading companies, and a wide variety of regional agricultural and food items. The Overseas Corporate Pavilion has diversified its participating countries by discovering new entrants such as China and Myanmar. Furthermore, the number of participating overseas companies increased from 34 last year to 42 this year, allowing visitors to encounter fermented beverages, cheese, sauces, and various other global foods all in one place.

Business-to-business (B2B) networking between companies has also been strengthened. Rather than relying on online consultations, the expo focuses on inviting overseas buyers for face-to-face B2B consultations, enabling them to directly inspect products and discuss practical trade opportunities. Notably, by attracting buyers from the Middle East and Africa, the province plans to expand avenues for local food companies to enter emerging markets.

A variety of performance and experience programs have also been prepared for visitors. Programs such as children's musicals, random play dance, VR experiences, and food culture experiences utilizing regional agri-food products provide diverse entertainment for family visitors.

Convenience for visitors and eco-friendly operations have likewise been enhanced. By expanding convenience facilities such as picnic zones and rest areas, the expo creates a more pleasant viewing environment while pursuing a sustainable exhibition aimed at resource conservation and waste reduction.

Min Sun-shik, Director-General of the Agriculture, Life Sciences and Livestock Industry Bureau at Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "This year's expo focuses on widely promoting the value and industrial potential of fermented foods by strengthening microorganism-specialized contents and face-to-face business consultations. We will provide participating companies with practical market expansion opportunities while offering visitors a rich array of exhibitions and experiences."

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