The Korea Importers Association said on the 16th it will host the Korea Import Expo (KIE) 2026 at COEX in Seoul for three days starting on the 23rd.
KIE 2026 is hosted by the association and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
It is held every year to introduce outstanding overseas products to the domestic market and to create global supply chain expansion and new business opportunities.
This year marks the 23rd event, with about 150 corporations from more than 30 countries showcasing a variety of imports.
In addition, government agencies from each country, foreign embassies in Korea, and trade and investment promotion agencies will also participate to introduce corporations seeking to enter the Korean market at national and corporate pavilions.
In particular, this year the European Union will participate as the official host country, with member states organizing national pavilions so visitors can see premium food and beverages from across Europe, eco-friendly agricultural products, and household consumer goods all in one place.
During the exhibition, a business consultation program consolidating overseas manufacturers with domestic buyers will operate, with domestic import companies, major retailers, and e-commerce platforms expected to take part.
Until last year, the event was held under the name Korea Import Fair, but starting this year the name was changed to emphasize functions such as supply chain discovery and business matching in addition to exhibiting outstanding products.
Yoon Young-mi, president of the Korea Importers Association, said, "As we are holding the event under the new name Korea Import Expo instead of Korea Import Fair this year, we expect it to leap forward as a global exchange platform that goes beyond an exhibition to generate tangible business results."