Great American Craft Beer Showcase at KIBEX 2024 (April 11-13, 2024)

ATO Seoul in a partnership with the Brewers Association (BA) organized the 'Great American Craft Beer Showcase' at the Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX) on April 11-13, 2024. A total of 40 breweries participated in the activity, 10 of which were new to market, showcasing the quality, value, and diversity that the U.S. craft beer industry has to offer. Eight Korean import distribution partners joined the project and exhibited for the 30 breweries that they represent. According to the outcome survey, five import distributors who participated at the Showcase reported a total of $10,300 on-site sales and one forecasted $10,000 of sales growth within 12 months. The DCM attended the event, touring the U.S. Pavilion and hearing from the U.S. exhibitors the challenges and opportunities in the Korean market.

Beer and Food Pairing Dinner

ATO Seoul supported the Brewers Association’s organization of a Beer and Food Pairing Dinner in conjunction with KIBEX 2024. 18 Lifestyle and Food media were invited to attend the dinner, where BA and Master Chef Crystal Kim showcased the flavors of Korean cuisine paired to American craft beer. This was the first time this event was held in Korea and the media attending were impressed with the diversity of beers presented and how well they paired with the food.

ATO Seoul Promotes U.S. Seafood

ATO Seoul partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to organize a U.S. Pavilion at the 21^st Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2023, November 1 – 3. ATO Seoul, ASMI, WSDA, and one U.S. seafood supplying company provided information on U.S. seafood products to Korean buyers, exhibited samples, and met with visitors in the U.S. Pavilion. The event generated a number of serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers interested in a range of U.S. fishery products. South Korea is the United States fourth largest export market for fishery products. Korea imported $229 million worth of U.S. seafood in 2022, and another $226 million was transshipped through Korea. The top ten seafood imports from the United States by value in 2022 were Alaska pollack surimi, flat fish, roes, and milt of fish other than Alaska pollack, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, frozen Alaska pollack fish, fillet of plaice, live hagfish, other fish frozen, cod, and live lobster. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read the ATO Seoul Seafood Market Update 2023.