Food Week Korea at COEX 2026: Delicious Food Expo, Free Entry for Overseas Visitors

Food Week Korea 2026 is free for overseas visitors who register. 🍽️ About 1,000 companies fill COEX in Seoul from November 4 to 7, and the entry rules differ for foreign and Korean visitors. Read this before you go: here’s the full guide to registration, hours and last-entry times. ✨

※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Food Week Korea runs 4 days, November 4–7, at COEX in Seoul, and registered overseas visitors get in free. 🍽️ Pick your day, register, and bring ID. 🎫

Food Week Korea is the 21st Seoul International Food Industry Show, a food and beverage trade exhibition held at COEX Hall A, B, C and The Platz Hall from Wednesday, November 4 to Saturday, November 7, 2026. COEX is a large convention and exhibition complex in Seoul’s Gangnam district.

According to the organizers, about 1,000 companies from 30 countries and 1,800 booths are expected. These are pre-event projections, so the final numbers may differ. Korean visitors buy tickets, while the official English visitor guide lists free admission for registered overseas visitors, so this guide follows that route first. Based on official announcements as of October 30, 2026.

Official English Visitor Guide

1. Food Week Korea: What the Show Covers

The 21st Edition and Its Scale

The show is the 21st Seoul International Food Industry Show. The organizers expect 30 countries, 1,000 companies and 1,800 booths, focused on convenience foods, processed foods and beverages. Treat these as pre-event estimates, because actual participation can change. The latest exhibitor list is on the official website.

Four Spaces at COEX

The exhibition spreads across COEX Hall A, B, C and The Platz Hall, four spaces in total. With that much floor area, picking a few target exhibitors in advance will save time. This guide could not confirm booth layouts or the exhibitor list, so check the official site for details.

Who Gets In Free

The official English guide says free admission is available only for registered overseas visitors, once the Secretariat approves them. The Korean ticket page lists other free groups: food-industry buyers who pre-register and carry a business card, children born in 2014 or later with a guardian, and people with disabilities plus one companion. Proof documents for those groups are covered in the tips section below.

2. Food Week Korea Dates, Hours & How to Get to COEX

Wednesday, November 4 to Saturday, November 7

The show runs four days, three weekdays followed by a Saturday. That makes it easy to fit around a work or sightseeing schedule. Paid tickets are for one day each, so a multi-day visit needs one ticket per day.

Opening Hours and Last Entry

From November 4 to 6, the show is open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the last entrance is 5:00 PM. On Saturday, November 7, it closes at 5:00 PM and the last entrance is 4:00 PM, according to the official English guide. A large venue deserves more than an hour, so arrive well before those cut-offs.

Location, Getting There and Parking

The venue is COEX at 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. COEX connects directly to Samseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, which is the simplest way in. This guide did not confirm airport routes, travel times or fares, so check a route planner before you leave. The official ticket information states there is no parking support and no group or parking discounts.

💡 Agoda and Booking.com let you compare hotels near COEX. Check cancellation terms before you book!

A trade show needs more planning than a single ticket. If you are flying in, staying close to Samseong Station keeps travel time short on show days. Compare check-in times and refund rules, since they vary by property. Look at the distance to COEX before you choose.

3. Tickets & Registration: 4 Steps for Foreign Visitors

Step 1: Confirm Your Visitor Category

Overseas visitors can enter free after registering. Everyone else buys a one-day ticket: KRW 10,900 for the second early bird (until November 3), or KRW 15,000 on-site. A 4-day pass is listed at KRW 30,000, but the official page only shows one-day wording, so confirm the pass conditions with the seller.

Step 2: Pre-Register on the Official English Site

Pre-registration is open until 3:00 PM on November 3, 2026. Your QR code is emailed the day before the show. If it doesn’t arrive, you can still get your pass by confirming your name at the registration desk. Visitors with an invitation can show it to the staff instead. The organizers state they do not issue invitation letters for visa purposes.

Step 3: Or Register On-Site

You can also register for free at the venue. Bring a valid ID that confirms you are a foreign visitor. The official guide doesn’t list accepted documents, so a passport is the safest choice. General tickets are sold through Korean-language booking platforms, and the seller’s rules decide cancellations and refunds.

Step 4: Collect Your Entry Pass

Scan your QR code at the foreign visitor registration desk or kiosk to receive your pass. Free-entry groups other than overseas visitors must carry proof. Without it, entry is refused and a ticket must be bought on-site.

4. Where to Eat & Stay Nearby

Eating Around the Venue

This guide did not confirm restaurant names or prices near COEX, so no specific places are recommended. Since the show closes at 6:00 PM, and at 5:00 PM on the last day, lunch hours inside and outside the venue may get crowded. Plan your meal break around that.

Booking a Hotel

Visitors from outside Seoul can compare hotels near COEX on Agoda, Booking.com or Trip.com. Several events may overlap in the area, but room availability was not confirmed. Check cancellation terms and check-in times before you book.

Check Registration & Hours

5. Early Bird vs On-Site Price at a Glance

General visitors choose between an early bird ticket, an on-site ticket and a 4-day pass. One day costs less with the early bird, which ends November 3. For several days, compare buying one ticket per day with the pass. The table uses only the announced prices in KRW, and overseas visitors can skip it by registering for free admission.

6. 5 Tips for Foreign Visitors

Register Early, or Bring ID to the Desk

Pre-registration ends at 3:00 PM on November 3, but on-site registration is also free with a valid ID. Pre-registering gets you a QR code by email the day before. It is the faster option on show day.

Other Free Groups Need Proof

Children born in 2014 or later need a guardian and a document showing the birth date. People with disabilities need a disability welfare card to bring one companion in free. Buyers must pre-register and carry a business card. Forgetting the documents means paying KRW 15,000 on-site.

Paid Tickets Are One Person, One Day

Early bird and regular tickets cover one person for one day, so a two-day visit needs two tickets. Cancellation, change and refund rules follow the seller, not the organizers. Read them before paying.

The Last Day Closes an Hour Early

On Saturday, November 7, the show closes at 5:00 PM and the last entrance is 4:00 PM. Saturday may also draw more visitors, so arriving in the morning is a safer plan.

No Parking Support, and Side Events May Cost Extra

The official ticket information says no parking support is provided. Some side events, such as conferences or hands-on programs, charge separate fees. Check the cost of any event you want to join on the official website first.

💡 Coming from outside Seoul? Look up KTX train tickets on Trip.com or Klook before you travel!

A trip with several people goes more smoothly when transport and rooms are settled early. Compare departure times, then match your hotel check-in to your arrival. Korean-language booking pages are common, so a browser translate tool helps. Keep your confirmation emails handy at the registration desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

More to Explore

Before you head to COEX, sort out your registration, transport and hotel together. You can compare hotels on Agoda or Booking.com and confirm your entry method on the official English guide. Moving around Seoul takes time, so keep your route light.

Heading to COEX by KTX? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.

Source: Food Week Korea official visitor guide and ticket information, COEX exhibition schedule (as of October 2026)