By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Fair in Seoul will serve as a platform to strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and South Korea, said Fazbuzz Events and Media director Fazura Azima.
She said the inaugural Malaysia Fair in Seoul, scheduled for Nov 7 and 8, 2026 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, would provide Malaysian businesses with opportunities to enter the Korean market.
“Malaysia Fair in Seoul is a multi-sector platform designed to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, culture, innovation and higher education between Malaysia and South Korea,” she said during a press conference at a hotel.
Fazura said the event would be held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year, which has been extended to 2027 from 2026.
She said the fair was not merely a consumer exhibition but a platform to promote Malaysian products, services and business opportunities to Korean consumers and companies.
“Malaysian food and products, especially halal products, are gaining popularity in Seoul, with growing demand among consumers,” she said.
The event is expected to feature 50 exhibitors from various sectors, including tourism, small and medium enterprises, agriculture and education.
Fazura encouraged Malaysian businesses to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the Korean market.
She said education would also be among the sectors promoted, as Malaysia was becoming an attractive destination for Korean families seeking safe and affordable education options.
“Korean families are increasingly interested in spending their summer holidays in Malaysia while taking English courses. They stay for about a month while exploring the country, which is part of the growing edutourism trend,” she said.
Fazura said Seoul was chosen as part of the strategy to promote Malaysia to South Korean travellers seeking diverse food choices, multicultural experiences and warm-weather destinations.
She added that Malaysia currently has two direct flight connections to South Korea — Kuala Lumpur-Incheon and Kota Kinabalu-Incheon.
The fair will feature both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sessions, with the first two days focusing on consumers before business networking sessions are held.
Fazura said Dongdaemun Design Plaza was selected due to its strategic location in central Seoul and high visitor traffic.
“We will provide opportunities for Malaysian businesses to connect with potential partners and explore market opportunities in South Korea,” she said.
She said the organisers had received support and market insights from the Malaysian Embassy in Seoul, Tourism Malaysia Seoul and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Seoul.
Fazura said Malaysian SMEs with suitable products, especially halal and packaged products, had strong potential to enter the Korean market.
Fazura (second left), with Malaysia Fair organising team.
