KIBEX 2025 and Drink Seoul 2025 open at COEX: A snapshot of the global beer and liquor industry
Published 2025. 04. 10
The 7th Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX 2025) kicked off on April 10 (Thursday) at COEX Hall B, marking its largest edition yet | Photo by AVING News
The 7th Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX 2025), a key event in the global beer industry, opened on April 10 (Thursday) at COEX Hall B in Seoul. Running for three days through April 12 (Saturday), this year’s edition aims to reinvigorate the stagnant beer market amid global economic downturns, rising logistics, and raw material costs while providing a business platform where industry leaders worldwide can share the latest trends and innovations.
The U.S. pavilion, organized by the Brewers Association and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, features around 30 breweries, including eight not yet imported to Korea. The China pavilion showcases a variety of brewing equipment and facilities. Fermentis, a global yeast company from France, and its Korean partner, Bision Corporation (CEO Cheolhee Cho), plan to unveil new products and host brewing-related conferences.
KIBEX is the first beer exhibition to introduce a docent tour program. This allows buyers to receive structured, expert guidance while participating companies gain opportunities to meet potential clients. The tour covers three main categories—beer, equipment, and raw materials—and reached its 150-person capacity just one week after opening.
Drink Seoul, held concurrently, also offers docent tours in two categories: wine and traditional Korean liquor. Meanwhile, the popular "Beer to Business" matchmaking program continues to connect local craft breweries with buyers and partners.
KIBEX 2025 also features the “Brew It Yourself” program, which is aimed at homebrewers and is co-hosted with Vision Biochem. Participants are given hops, malt, and yeast to craft their brews. At the exhibition, attendees can sample the results and offer feedback in sessions co-hosted with the Korea Craft Brewers Association.
Docent tours drew strong interest at the 7th Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX 2025) | Photo by AVING News
Despite ongoing global economic challenges, KIBEX continues to invest in international expansion. With support from Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association, the KIBEX organizing committee is hosting buyers worldwide, including the U.S., Brazil, Belgium, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan. Around 300 international buyers are expected to attend.
This is expected to boost international exposure and business opportunities for Korean craft breweries while further solidifying Korea’s position in the global beer industry. During the event, KIBEX organizer GMEG (CEO Haejung Lee) plans to sign MOUs with the Philippine Craft Beer Association and the organizers of a Brazilian beer expo to support the overseas expansion of Korean beer brands.
The Korea International Beer Conference (KIBCON), also held during KIBEX, brings together beer associations worldwide to share insights and strategies for navigating changing consumer trends and global competition. Technical sessions on raw materials and brewing equipment will provide practical knowledge to industry professionals and help accelerate technological advancement across the industry.
The Korea International Beer Conference (KIBCON) took place alongside KIBEX. On the photo, Carl Kins, Executive Member of the European Consumers Beer Union, delivered a seminar "The Future of Beer in a Shrinking Market"| Photo by AVING News
The Korea International Beer Award (KIBA), now in its fourth year, has established itself as a globally competitive commercial beer competition. While 347 beers from 76 breweries were submitted in 2024, this year’s event saw 467 entries from 101 breweries across 21 countries—a 140% increase—with international brands accounting for 45% of all entries. A panel of 10 Korean and 43 international judges will conduct evaluations based on international guidelines. The awards ceremony will be held on April 11 (Friday) at COEX.
Concurrently held, Drink Seoul 2025 showcases a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including domestic and international distilled spirits, traditional Korean liquor, and wine. The event offers a comprehensive look at current liquor market trends.
The “Andong City Pavilion” features traditional Korean soju and local specialty liquors, while the “Yeongdong County Pavilion” hosts numerous Korean wineries. Reflecting growing diversity in consumer preferences, Drink Seoul 2025 expands to include categories like distilled spirits, mead, and sake, drawing more industry professionals from a broader spectrum of the beverage sector.
Drink Seoul 2025 aims to facilitate international networking and collaboration among alcohol brands and provide a platform to explore new market potential. Highlights include sake and distilled spirit master classes on the open stage and the “Royal Court Liquor Brewing Contest,” hosted by the Korea Liquor Lab (SulDoc) (Director In Su Ryoo) with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Rural Development Administration, and the Korean Food Promotion Institute.
Natterjack Irish Whiskey by Gortinore Distillers & Co. | Photo by AVING News
Beers from AleSmith Brewing Company | Photo by AVING News
Jamon from an exhibitor | Photo by AVING News
Megori soju by HeriTechSpirits | Photo by AVING News
Liqueurs from Berentzen Gruppe | Photo by AVING News
KIBEX 2025 aims to solidify its status as the central hub for the Asian beer industry by bringing together key stakeholders, fostering innovation, and driving market growth. The event also invites craft breweries and professionals worldwide, strengthening its position as a premier global business platform.
Drink Seoul 2025 features a broader range of beverages, including spirits, traditional liquors, wines, meads, and sakes. Korean distillers and spirit makers will present diverse lineups reflecting conventional and modern brewing techniques. In particular, participation from meaderies is set to expand. The newly added sake section will host eight importers showcasing over 90 brands.
DK Kim Reporter davis@aving.net
[URL] https://us.aving.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=52209
[Source] AVING NEWS
KIBEX 2025 and Drink Seoul 2025 open at COEX: A snapshot of the global beer and liquor industry
Published 2025. 04. 10
The 7th Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX 2025), a key event in the global beer industry, opened on April 10 (Thursday) at COEX Hall B in Seoul. Running for three days through April 12 (Saturday), this year’s edition aims to reinvigorate the stagnant beer market amid global economic downturns, rising logistics, and raw material costs while providing a business platform where industry leaders worldwide can share the latest trends and innovations.
The U.S. pavilion, organized by the Brewers Association and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, features around 30 breweries, including eight not yet imported to Korea. The China pavilion showcases a variety of brewing equipment and facilities. Fermentis, a global yeast company from France, and its Korean partner, Bision Corporation (CEO Cheolhee Cho), plan to unveil new products and host brewing-related conferences.
KIBEX is the first beer exhibition to introduce a docent tour program. This allows buyers to receive structured, expert guidance while participating companies gain opportunities to meet potential clients. The tour covers three main categories—beer, equipment, and raw materials—and reached its 150-person capacity just one week after opening.
Drink Seoul, held concurrently, also offers docent tours in two categories: wine and traditional Korean liquor. Meanwhile, the popular "Beer to Business" matchmaking program continues to connect local craft breweries with buyers and partners.
KIBEX 2025 also features the “Brew It Yourself” program, which is aimed at homebrewers and is co-hosted with Vision Biochem. Participants are given hops, malt, and yeast to craft their brews. At the exhibition, attendees can sample the results and offer feedback in sessions co-hosted with the Korea Craft Brewers Association.
Despite ongoing global economic challenges, KIBEX continues to invest in international expansion. With support from Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association, the KIBEX organizing committee is hosting buyers worldwide, including the U.S., Brazil, Belgium, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan. Around 300 international buyers are expected to attend.
This is expected to boost international exposure and business opportunities for Korean craft breweries while further solidifying Korea’s position in the global beer industry. During the event, KIBEX organizer GMEG (CEO Haejung Lee) plans to sign MOUs with the Philippine Craft Beer Association and the organizers of a Brazilian beer expo to support the overseas expansion of Korean beer brands.
The Korea International Beer Conference (KIBCON), also held during KIBEX, brings together beer associations worldwide to share insights and strategies for navigating changing consumer trends and global competition. Technical sessions on raw materials and brewing equipment will provide practical knowledge to industry professionals and help accelerate technological advancement across the industry.
The Korea International Beer Award (KIBA), now in its fourth year, has established itself as a globally competitive commercial beer competition. While 347 beers from 76 breweries were submitted in 2024, this year’s event saw 467 entries from 101 breweries across 21 countries—a 140% increase—with international brands accounting for 45% of all entries. A panel of 10 Korean and 43 international judges will conduct evaluations based on international guidelines. The awards ceremony will be held on April 11 (Friday) at COEX.
Concurrently held, Drink Seoul 2025 showcases a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including domestic and international distilled spirits, traditional Korean liquor, and wine. The event offers a comprehensive look at current liquor market trends.
The “Andong City Pavilion” features traditional Korean soju and local specialty liquors, while the “Yeongdong County Pavilion” hosts numerous Korean wineries. Reflecting growing diversity in consumer preferences, Drink Seoul 2025 expands to include categories like distilled spirits, mead, and sake, drawing more industry professionals from a broader spectrum of the beverage sector.
Drink Seoul 2025 aims to facilitate international networking and collaboration among alcohol brands and provide a platform to explore new market potential. Highlights include sake and distilled spirit master classes on the open stage and the “Royal Court Liquor Brewing Contest,” hosted by the Korea Liquor Lab (SulDoc) (Director In Su Ryoo) with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Rural Development Administration, and the Korean Food Promotion Institute.
Natterjack Irish Whiskey by Gortinore Distillers & Co. | Photo by AVING News
Liqueurs from Berentzen Gruppe | Photo by AVING News
KIBEX 2025 aims to solidify its status as the central hub for the Asian beer industry by bringing together key stakeholders, fostering innovation, and driving market growth. The event also invites craft breweries and professionals worldwide, strengthening its position as a premier global business platform.
Drink Seoul 2025 features a broader range of beverages, including spirits, traditional liquors, wines, meads, and sakes. Korean distillers and spirit makers will present diverse lineups reflecting conventional and modern brewing techniques. In particular, participation from meaderies is set to expand. The newly added sake section will host eight importers showcasing over 90 brands.
DK Kim Reporter davis@aving.net
[URL] https://us.aving.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=52209
[Source] AVING NEWS