Minister Choi Hwiyoung: "Korean Cuisine Is a Key Medium for Spreading the Appeal of Korean Culture"

K-Food Overseas Expansion Advisory Meeting at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
K-Food Exports Surpass $7 Billion in First Half of the Year, Setting All-Time Record

“Korean cuisine is more than just food; it serves as a crucial medium that embodies Korean culture and spreads its appeal.”

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister Choi Hwiyoung made this statement at the “K-Food Overseas Expansion Advisory Meeting” held on July 14 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul.

The advisory meeting, which focused on strategies for promoting Korean food and food culture abroad, was attended by Hwang Kyoik, President of the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute; Lee Gyumin, Chairperson of the Korean Food Promotion Institute; actor Ryu Sooyoung, a well-known ambassador of Korean food; Baek Heonseok, CEO of ELTV; and Jung Yujin, Head of the Restaurant Business Division at CJ CheilJedang, among others.

Choi Huijeong, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (second from the left), is meeting with heads of public institutions related to Korean food, executives of Korean food export companies, Korean food content creators and cast members, and other relevant experts on the 14th at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss strategies for the overseas expansion of Korean food and Korean food culture. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister Choi and the participants reviewed the current state of K-Food, a core area for achieving the goal of a 400 trillion won K-Culture market by 2030, and discussed policy directions for its international expansion.

The worldwide popularity of K-Food is reflected in various indicators. According to the “2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey,” food (78%) was the most commonly experienced Korean content among global Hallyu fans. In the first half of this year, K-Food exports surpassed 7 billion dollars, reaching an all-time high. The Ministry evaluated K-Food as having established itself as a key content representing K-Culture, moving beyond being merely an ingredient.

Experts present at the meeting emphasized that growing interest and favorability toward K-Food is driven by the expansion of K-Culture and the rise of the national brand value. They stressed the need for active government support for the global spread of K-Food from a cultural perspective to maintain this momentum. Various policy suggestions were also made, including cultivating world-class Korean cuisine experts, expanding diverse promotional channels for Korean food culture, and fostering partnerships with international culinary institutions and renowned chefs.

Minister Choi Hwiyoung said, “Based on the valuable insights shared at this meeting, we will actively support the continued global expansion of Korean cuisine as a cultural content enjoyed by people around the world.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.