The world of K-Food has expanded its reach and depth in the European market. At the recently concluded SIAL Paris 2024, one of the world's three largest food exhibitions, Korean food products showcased a wide range of innovations, capturing the attention of global consumers.

Held from October 19 to 23 in Paris, the 60th anniversary edition of SIAL Paris provided a platform for 75 Korean food exporters, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), to showcase their products. The Korean pavilion was bustling with visitors throughout the five-day event.

Kimchi, Korea's iconic fermented vegetable dish, was undoubtedly the star of the show. The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) garnered significant attention with its freeze-dried kimchi block. This innovative product can be easily prepared by simply adding water and breaking it into pieces, resulting in a bowl of kimchi within three minutes. "This seasoning can be used with various vegetables, such as cucumbers, onions, and cabbage, allowing people from different countries to enjoy the taste of kimchi," said Lee Su-won, team leader of the food business division at NACF.

Other notable kimchi products included "Kimchi Witch Pickled Vegetable Powder" by The Bob, a food additive company, and "Kimchi at Home Kit" by Sempio. The former is a convenient powder that can be sprinkled on vegetables to make kimchi, while the latter offers a differentiated experience with separately packaged chili powder and a liquid sauce made with glutinous rice flour and fish sauce.

Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), frozen gimbap (Korean rice rolls), and mandu (dumplings) also proved to be popular among visitors. Choi Ju-hee, deputy director of the aT Paris office, noted, "While people used to only look for gochujang-based tteokbokki, now they have more diverse preferences, such as jajang (black bean sauce), rose, and soy sauce flavors. They also seek a variety of forms, including rabokki (ramen and tteokbokki) and cup-style tteokbokki."

Frozen gimbap was identified as a potential next-generation export item. Jadeng, a coffee and tea company, held over 30 consultations with local buyers on the first day of the exhibition. Yoon Sang-yong, CEO of Jadeng, commented, "It seems that people find it interesting to see the characters in Korean dramas drinking beverages from ice cups and pouches at convenience stores. Korean beverages packaged in PET bottles, cans, and pouches are likely to gain popularity in the future."

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