Great American Craft Beer Showcase at KIBEX 2025

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 10-12, 2025. A total of 28 breweries participated in the activity, showcasing the quality, value, and diversity that the U.S. craft beer industry has to offer. Seven of the breweries traveled to the show, and the remaining 21 breweries were represented by their Korean import distributors or the BA EDP staff. Six of the breweries had no Korean import distributors and met many potential buyers during the show. Three of the new-to-market breweries who traveled to the show reported $150,000 of potential export sales to South Korea within the next 12 months as a result of the show. Korean import distributors who exhibited in the pavilion on behalf of their American breweries reported $10,000 of on-site cash register sales and over $140,000 of potential sales growth over the next 12 months as a result of the show.

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 22nd Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2024, November 6 – 8. ATO Seoul, partnering with ASMI, WSDA, and two U.S. seafood supplying companies, provided information on U.S. seafood products to Korean buyers, exhibited samples, and met with visitors in the U.S. Pavilion. Mark Dries, Minister-Counselor for FAS Seoul represented the United States at the grand opening ceremony and in the U.S. Seafood 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 $203 million worth of U.S. seafood in 2023, and another $276 million was transshipped through Korea. The top ten seafood imports from the United States by value in 2023 were Alaska pollack surimi, frozen flat fish, roes and milt of fish other than Alaska pollack, other fish frozen, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, fillet of plaice, roes and milt of Alaska pollack, frozen Atka mackerel, frozen Alaska pollack fish, and live hagfish. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read the ATO Seoul Seafood Market Update 2024.

Korean Buyers Delegation Brewing Ingredients RTM to Washington State

ATO Seoul brought a delegation of Korean brewers to Seattle and Yakima, Washington on August 2024 to help Korean ingredient users expand knowledge about the U.S. brewing ingredient and allow them to order ingredients on site. The delegation consisted of seven leading Korean craft brewers and one ATO staff. The team visited ten breweries, one cidery, two hop farms and one hop supplier. The delegation group also attended the Hop and Brew School hosted by Yakima Chief Hops and learned about the quality, value, technology of U.S. brewing ingredients. After the activity, four companies have responded that the activity resulted in $96,000 sales contract of hops. Six companies responded that they expect to purchase $377,000 of ingredient as a result of this activity within 12 months.