2017 Ethanol Workshop, May 16, 2017

On Tuesday, May 16, U.S. Embassy Seoul’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council, hosted in Seoul the 2017 Workshop and Roundtable on the Benefits of Bioethanol, a day-long series of presentations and in-depth discussions on the current economics of global ethanol production and trade, the environmental benefits of including ethanol in transportation fuel, and research updates into the latest technology related to ethanol production from grains, biomass, and agricultural and forestry waste products. Presenters from Korea and the Philippines also provided information on biofuel policy in their home countries. This year’s workshop, the 2nd annual, focused heavily on the environmental benefits of ethanol as a transportation fuel component, including benefits for water and especially urban air quality. For more information, please review the speakers’ presentations. The U.S. Grains Council published additional information about the workshop, including a similar activity held in Vietnam. Please visit USGC’s coverage of these events to learn more.

Great American Craft Beer Showcase @ Seoul Int’l Wines & Spirits Expo 2017, April 27-29, COEX Seoul

In partnership with the Brewers Association (BA), Potatoes USA, and the California Walnut Council (CWC), ATO Seoul presented the ‘Great American Craft Beer Showcase’ booth at the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2017. A total of 15 American craft breweries participated in the booth, including 3 new-to-market breweries, offering an opportunity for the Korean craft beer trade to experience the quality, value, and diversity of premium beer that the American craft beer industry has to offer. Potatoes USA and CWC joined the exhibition and provided the visitors with unique finger food items that they developed for food-craft beer pairing experiences. During two days of exhibition, over 1,000 of the target trade audience visited the booth. Additionally, the ‘Great American Craft Beer Seminar’ that BA presented during the show provided 50 attendees from the Korean beer and alcohol beverage industry with in-depth information about the American craft beer industry. An evaluation survey indicated that the activity generated over 150 serious contacts with target Korean buyers and estimated over $100,000 in new sales within the next 12 months of the featured American craft beers. In addition, two of the new-to-market American craft breweries that participated are likely to develop Korean import distribution partners soon (estimated export value of $40,000).

ATO-KAFI Network Fieldtrip to Punch Bowl DMZ, April 21, 2017

ATO Seoul and a group of Korean food importers under KAFI (Korean Association of Independent Food Importers) made a network fieldtrip to the Punch Bowl in the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) area in Gangwon province to further strengthen our relationships and forge new friendships. A total of 37 people joined the outing and enjoyed a rare opportunity to tour some key Korean war memorial sites in the DMZ area, including the Punch Bowl War Memorial Park, the 4th Underground Tunnel dug by North Korea, Eulji DMZ Observatory Tower as well as to visit the 21st Infantry Division under ROK Army that guards the area. The Punch Bowl area, which faces the border to North Korea is one of the most remembered Korean war memorial sites to both Koreans and Americans as over 3,000 American soldiers died there during fierce battles. KAFI members generously donated imported American snacks and beverages, worth almost $20,000 in commercial value, to the hard-working soldiers in the 21st division.