By Honorary Reporter Nerea Ramirez from Mexico

Photos = Nerea Ramirez

Daeba-K Expo Tampico, an event dedicated to K-pop and Hallyu, on March 27 took place at Municipal Auditorium in Tampico, Mexico. More than 2,000 people visited and 40 exhibitors running businesses in that city offered their products related to the Korean Wave.

Both imports from Korea and fan-made items were displayed at the event. 

María Guerrero explains her Korean food recipes to visitors. 

Maria Guerrero is the owner of Korytam, a business selling Korean snacks. After she lost her job last year, her husband and her daughter persuaded her to do something utilizing her passion for Korea, the country that produces her favorite dramas. Guerrero said Hallyu brought to mind the era of her adolescence, when groups like the 1980s music acts Chamos and Parchis were popular.

Another Hallyu entrepreneur, Erika Isabel, started Bubble Store, which sells K-pop merchandise and confectionery. She said her parents also encouraged her to start a business involving her passion. 

Karla Trejo started a cosmetics store called Blink Store last year with her younger sister, who is interested in Asian fashion and makeup. Their business not only provides customers with creative and quality makeup, but also does social work such as saving stray cats.

Patricia Perez Davila displays her drawings of K-pop acts.

For Patricia Perez Davila, her drawing of BTS member Jungkook last year led her to her calling. She said she simply wanted to show her works on social media but they grew popular. Requests for drawings of K-pop favorite idols began pouring in, and thus her hobby made her into a young entrepreneur.

All of these businesses have an online presence and are located in northeastern Mexico. Thanks to the exhibition and their hard work, many of them have tapped other markets abroad with their products, including Korea.

The biannual expo is attended and organized mainly by fans of Korean culture. Organizers said the latest edition was the first in the exhibition's history to see all 2,000 tickets sell out thanks to the explosion in Hallyu's popularity worldwide.

kalhong617@korea.kr 

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.