What is Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo?

South Korea's dedicated halal industry expo, also known as K-Halal Expo. Focus on halal food, cosmetics, and Muslim-friendly products for the Korean and East Asian markets.

When is Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo 2026?

Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo takes place from September 1 to September 3, 2026.

Where is Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo held?

Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo is held at COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Who should attend Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo?

Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo is most relevant to Halal certification bodies, Importers, distributors & wholesalers, Retail & procurement buyers and Halal trade buyers across East Asia.

Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo 2026 — Seoul

Loading…

Your guide to Seoul

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a fast, ultra-modern city that hosts major food and halal-focused trade shows — events such as Seoul Food & Hotel and Korea's halal food and cosmetics expos draw international buyers to venues like the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam. Korea is not a Muslim-majority country, so halal food is not the default: it is concentrated around the Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon (and the 'Muslim street', Usadan-ro, beside it), with a growing number of certified and Muslim-friendly restaurants elsewhere that the Korea Tourism Organization formally classifies. Outside those, pork and non-halal meat are common in Korean cooking, so it pays to plan meals. The upside: the subway is world-class, cheap and signed in English, the city is extremely safe, and a 24-hour multilingual tourist hotline (1330) is a phone call away.

Day	Fajr	Sunrise	Dhuhr	Asr	Maghrib	Isha
Tue 1 Sep	04:30	06:02	12:32	16:11	19:01	20:27
Wed 2 Sep	04:31	06:03	12:32	16:10	19:00	20:26
Thu 3 Sep	04:32	06:03	12:31	16:09	18:59	20:24

Getting in

Incheon International Airport (ICN)

• AREX airport railroad — ~43 min (Express) to Seoul Station; ~60 min all-stop (the fastest, best-value link; the Express runs non-stop to Seoul Station, the all-stop connects to the wider subway)

• Airport limousine bus — 60-90 min depending on traffic and district (comfortable coaches to hotels and districts across the city; easiest with luggage)

• Taxi / Kakao T — 60-80 min (convenient door-to-door but the most expensive; book via the Kakao T app for an easy hail)

Gimpo International Airport (GMP)

• Subway (lines 5 & 9) / AREX — 30-50 min to the centre (Gimpo handles domestic and some regional international flights and is much closer to the city than Incheon)

Getting around

Seoul's subway is one of the best in the world — vast, frequent, punctual, cheap and fully signed in English (with numbered lines and exits). It reaches almost everywhere a visitor needs, including COEX (line 2, Samseong) and Itaewon (line 6) for halal food and the mosque. Buses fill the gaps and taxis are reasonably priced; the AREX railroad links Incheon airport into the same network.

Buy a rechargeable T-money card (from convenience stores and station machines) and tap on for the subway, buses and even taxis — it is the simplest way to pay and gives small transfer discounts. Single-journey tickets are also available from machines.

Taxis are plentiful, metered and reasonably priced; the Kakao T app is the standard way to hail one and removes any language barrier. Orange/silver taxis are regular; black taxis are premium. Few drivers speak English, so show your destination in Korean (the app or a screenshot) or use the 1330 hotline's interpretation help.

Weather in September

High ~26°C · Low ~16°C

Warm, pleasant early autumn with falling humidity; the tail of a typhoon can occasionally bring heavy rain.

Light clothing with a light layer for the evenings; keep an umbrella handy.

Visa & entry

Entry rules depend on nationality. South Korea has extended its K-ETA exemption for citizens of 67 visa-waiver countries (including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and most EU states) through 31 December 2026 — those travellers may enter without applying for a K-ETA. If you enter without a K-ETA you must instead complete the mandatory digital e-Arrival Card before arrival (it replaced the old paper arrival card for most arrivals from 1 January 2026); holding a valid K-ETA exempts you from the e-Arrival Card. Travellers not covered by the visa-waiver exemption should apply for a K-ETA online before flying, or obtain a visa. Confirm your status on the official K-ETA portal before you travel.

Money

South Korean Won · KRW

Korea is highly cashless — cards and contactless (including mobile pay) are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and convenience stores. Carry a little cash for traditional markets and small stalls.

Tipping is not customary or expected in South Korea — prices are as listed, and leaving extra can cause confusion. Good service is standard.

Connectivity

KT, SKT and LG U+ tourist SIMs and rentable pocket-WiFi at Incheon and Gimpo arrivals; Korea has some of the world's fastest mobile and public Wi-Fi

eSIM: Airalo and similar eSIMs cover South Korea

Plug: Type C / F (two round pins, European-style) · 220V / 60Hz

Emergency

General: 112 (police) / 119 (fire & ambulance); 1330 = 24h multilingual tourist hotline

Fire: 119

Safety

Seoul is among the safest large cities in the world, with very low violent crime and a strong public-safety culture. The main seasonal considerations are summer heat and humidity, the late-June-to-July monsoon (jangma) and occasional late-summer typhoons that bring heavy rain. Rush-hour trains are very crowded but orderly. Tap water is officially safe though many locals prefer bottled/filtered. For any help, the free 1330 tourist hotline offers 24-hour interpretation and travel assistance.

Travelling from a major halal market?

Most halal-expo buyers and exhibitors travel from the world's main halal hubs. Here's how to connect to Seoul from each — entry rules vary by nationality, so check the Visa & entry note above.

Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

Malaysia

Find flights →Kuala Lumpur guide →

Jakarta (CGK)

Indonesia

Find flights →Jakarta guide →

Dubai (DXB)

United Arab Emirates

Find flights →Dubai guide →

Riyadh (RUH)

Saudi Arabia

Find flights →Riyadh guide →

Istanbul

Halal food

Itaewon halal quarter (Usadan-ro / 'Muslim street')

Itaewon (Yongsan-gu), beside Seoul Central Mosque · $-$$

halal — many certified, some self-certified

The heart of halal dining in Seoul: the streets around the Seoul Central Mosque have the city's densest cluster of halal restaurants, butchers and grocers, from kebabs and biryani to halal Korean BBQ. The widest, most reliable choice in the city.

KTO Muslim-friendly classified restaurants

citywide · $-$$$

Halal Certified / Self-certified / Muslim-friendly / Pork-free (KTO tiers)

The Korea Tourism Organization runs a Muslim-friendly restaurant classification across four tiers — look for its signage, or check the official Visit Korea list before you go, since standards vary between full certification and simply pork-free menus.

Halal-friendly options near COEX & Gangnam

Gangnam-gu (Samseong / COEX) · $$-$$$

Muslim-friendly — confirm per restaurant

Around the COEX exhibition centre and the Gangnam business district you'll find Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants and hotel dining that cater to Muslim guests; confirm halal status with each, as it is not guaranteed.

Convenience stores & self-catering

citywide · $

check labels

Korea's ubiquitous 24-hour convenience stores, bakeries and fruit stalls are handy between sessions; seafood and vegetarian Korean dishes (e.g. bibimbap without meat) are widely available, but always check labels for pork/alcohol-based ingredients.

Prayer spaces

Seoul Central Mosque

Hannam-dong, Itaewon (Yongsan-gu)

Korea's first and main mosque, opened in 1976 on a hill above Itaewon — the centre of Muslim life in Seoul, with a large Friday congregation and the halal food quarter at its foot.

Airport & venue prayer rooms

Incheon Airport and selected malls/venues

Incheon International Airport has dedicated prayer rooms in both terminals, and a growing number of malls, hotels and convention facilities provide musalla; outside these, prayer space is limited, so plan ahead.

When you're free

Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village

Jongno-gu (city centre)

The grandest of Seoul's royal palaces (watch the changing-of-the-guard) beside Bukchon's lanes of traditional hanok houses — the historic heart of the city.

N Seoul Tower & Namsan

Namsan (central)

The hilltop tower and park give the classic panorama over the whole city; reachable on foot, by cable car or bus, and a short walk from Itaewon.

Myeongdong & Insadong

Jung-gu / Jongno-gu

Myeongdong for street food and shopping, Insadong for tea houses, galleries and crafts — both compact, walkable and on the subway.

Seoul Central Mosque & Itaewon

Yongsan-gu

Worth a visit in its own right — the mosque on the hill, the halal food street below, and Itaewon's international restaurants and shops.

Sources: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do · https://english.visitkorea.or.kr · https://www.airport.kr/ap/en/index.do · https://english.seoul.go.kr

Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo

About This Event

Where it's held

Frequently Asked Questions

Booth Packages

Shell Scheme Standard (9 sqm)

How to Exhibit at Korea Halal Trade & Economic Expo

Related Articles

South Korea Halal Market 2026: Opportunities for Food Exporters and Businesses

Saudi Vision 2030 and the Halal Economy: What It Means for Exporters

Other Events You May Like

Virtual Halal B2B Connect 2026

Who Should Attend

Event Scale

Shell Scheme Double (18 sqm)

Space Only (27+ sqm)

Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026

Myanmar Halal Expo

Halal Suppliers from South Korea

Attendee Reviews

Prayer times during the expo

Your guide to Seoul

Travelling from a major halal market?

Halal food

Prayer spaces

When you're free

Related Resources

Companies in South Korea

Country Profile