Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo (right) on June 11 visits a booth at this year's International Food Industry Exhibition, aka Seoul Food 2024, at the Korea International Exhibition Center, aka KINTEX, in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

This year's International Food Industry Exhibition, aka Seoul Food 2024 and the nation's leading event of its kind, has opened at the biggest scale in its history.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency on June 11 said the exhibition, which offers a one-stop view of the global food market, will run through June 14 at the Korea International Exhibition Center, aka KINTEX, in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province.

Celebrating its 42nd edition this year, the annual event is considered one of Asia's four top exhibitions of its kind after those in Shanghai, Bangkok and Tokyo. Seoul Food 2024 has 1,605 participating food companies from 52 countries, the most in this expo's history.

A combined 250 food distribution buyers from 47 global markets including the U.S., Thailand and China will experience Korean food. They will also hold export consultations with domestic food companies worth an estimated USD 200 million.

The pavilion promoting Korean food will showcase meal kits, meat substitutes and traditional snacks to buyers from around the world.

Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo said, "The public and private sectors will join hands to offer full support for marketing, access to distribution platforms, logistics and certification to have K-food play a leading role in meeting this year's export goal of USD 700 billion."

dusrud21@korea.kr