Great American Craft Beer Showcase Seoul @ KIBEX 2020, aT Center, Seoul, July 30 - August 1, 2020

The U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) Seoul and the Brewers Association (BA) co-organized the “Great American Craft Beer Showcase Seoul” at the Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX) 2020, July 30 - August 3.  The ATO organized U.S. pavilion showcased a wide range of craft beer from 35 U.S. craft breweries, promoting the quality, value and diversity that the U.S. craft beer industry has to offer.  The 35 breweries were from 18 states, from Alaska to Maine.  Twelve of the breweries were new to the Korean market.  Approximately 1,500 people visited the pavilion during the show, including 500 beer industry buyers and professionals.  The show organizers took strict precautions to limit the risk of COVID-19.  This was ATO Seoul’s first in-person trade show in 2020.

Pacific Northwest Wine Specialist Certification Training for South Korea, Dragon City Hotel Seoul, February 19-20, 2020

The Northwest Wine Coalition (NWWC), representing the Oregon and Washington wine industries, hosted its first ‘Pacific Northwest Wine Specialist Certification Training’ for South Korea in Dragon City Hotel Seoul, February 19-20, 2020. The training was led by a renowned Master of Wine Bree Stock. Thirty-eight Korean wine professionals were certified as Pacific Northwest wine educators after the completing the training and passing an exam. The certified educators will share their knowledge and experience with local wine traders and consumers in Korea, expanding the market for quality wines from this unique American viticulture region. Tom Donowski (president of Oregon Wine Board) and Steve Warner (president of Washington State Wine Commission) attended the event, highlighting the importance of South Korea as a leading export market for American wines. NWWC plans to provide additional, higher level certification trainings for South Korea in the coming year.

Quarter Horse Western Riding Competition 2019

The Korea Quarter Horse Association (KQHA) held the ‘Quarter Horse Western Ring Competition 2019’ on December 2 in Woonjusan Equestrian Park, Youngcheon City, Gyeongbuk Province. Rider Juwan Nam on his horse ‘Jennie’ from Gimcheon Riding Farm won the Grand Prix by scoring a total of 20 points from three competition categories - Barrel racing, Pole bending racing, and Western trail riding. Mr. Nam received a 10 million won cash prize (approximately $9,000). Thirty-one riders participated in the event. KQHA started the annual competition in 2018 with the goal of developing a leisure-recreational horse riding industry in South Korea based on American quarter horses and western riding. Quarter horses, originated from the United States, are known for being rider-friendly and versatile. South Korea currently has around 400 quarter horses, including 200 horses imported from the United States.