Korea Health Functional Food Association shares innovation, global growth strategies at K-Health Conference 2026

The Korea Health Functional Food Association held K-Health Conference 2026 at COEX in Seoul's Samseong-dong on Tuesday, sharing strategies to drive innovation and strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea's health functional food industry.

The event featured a range of programs, including a consultation session with overseas buyers, a technology briefing and consultation session organized by a joint commercialization task force with government-funded research institutes, a technical support consultation for functional ingredient approval, a conference on innovative global expansion strategies for Korean health functional foods, and a future development strategy seminar.

The conference on innovative global expansion strategies featured six presentations covering topics including health functional food policy and standards, global safety management and export support, functional ingredient development and R&D, and a shift toward a prevention-focused health management paradigm.

Choi Eun-ju and Seon Nam-gyu, officials at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, presented on key health functional food policies and the direction of improvements to standards and specifications, respectively. Kim Dong-ju, head of the future strategy division at the Korea Food Safety Management Certification Institute, introduced safety management trends in major countries and export support programs.

Kim A-jin of Samyang Foods and Jo Seung-mok, chief executive of Nutreit, shared case studies on functional ingredient development and approval, along with R&D strategies tailored to global markets. Han Gyu-hong, a director at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation Institute, outlined the shifting health paradigm toward prevention and management and the future direction of Korean health functional foods.

A future development strategy seminar held that day featured three presentations and a panel discussion on changing consumer trends, consumer protection systems, and global expansion strategies for Korean health functional foods.

"Through the first day's programs, we were able to take a broad look at the key challenges facing the health functional food industry — from policy and regulatory systems to R&D, consumer trends and overseas expansion," an association official said. "We hope the discussions will translate into practical strategies that drive innovation and strengthen the global competitiveness of domestic health functional food companies."

The event runs through Thursday, with sessions and consultation meetings over three days covering core industry issues including ingredients and technology, policy, exports and retail.