Seoul Central Mosque
Itaewon (Hannam-dong)
South Korea's first and largest mosque, opened 1976, and the religious heart of Muslim life in Seoul.
Halal Industry Event
Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026
- Dates
- Dates to be confirmed
- Venue
- COEX Convention & Exhibition Center
- Location
- Seoul, South Korea
- Sectors
- Events & Shows, Business Development +1
The 2026 edition has wrapped up.
Next edition dates not yet published.
The Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo (K-HALAL) is the flagship event for Korean exporters targeting Muslim-majority markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Held at COEX in Seoul, the expo showcases Korean halal-certified food products, K-beauty cosmetics compliant with halal standards, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Features import buyers from Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and includes the Korea Halal Industry Week conference programme.
Industry Sectors
Who Should Attend
Halal certification bodiesImporters, distributors & wholesalersRetail & procurement buyersHalal trade buyers across East Asia
Booth Packages
Secure your exhibition space. Compare booth options, pricing, and inclusions below.
Contact the Organizer Directly
Booth package details are not yet listed for this event. Reach out to the organizer for exhibition options and pricing.
Visit Organizer WebsiteWhere it's held
COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea
Get directions →Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Seoul, South Korea
Halal 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.
Currency KRWKorea Standard Time (KST), UTC+9 — no daylight saving.
Mosques and sights
Halal places to visit in Seoul
Mosques and Islamic-heritage landmarks worth your time around the expo.
Usadan-ro 10-gil (Halal Street)
Itaewon
The hilly lane up to the mosque lined with halal restaurants, grocers and Islamic bookshops.
Itaewon halal grocery shops
Itaewon
Cluster of shops below the mosque selling halal meat, spices and prayer supplies for Muslim visitors.
Namsan Seoul Tower
Mount Namsan
Iconic city viewpoint overlooking Itaewon, easily paired with a visit to the nearby mosque and halal dining.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Jongno
Seoul's grand royal palace, a major heritage sight within reach of Itaewon's halal dining.
Halal food
Where to eat halal in Seoul
Well-loved halal restaurants across Seoul, from cheap local favourites to special-occasion dining.
EID Halal Korean Food
Korean$$
Itaewon
KMF-certified Korean kitchen serving halal bulgogi, bibimbap and samgyetang minutes from the mosque.
Makan Halal Korean Restaurant
Korean / Malaysian$
Itaewon
Affordable halal spot offering Korean dishes alongside Malaysian favourites.
Salam Restaurant
Pakistani$$
Itaewon
Classic halal curry house on the mosque street known for biryani and grilled meats.
Kervan
Turkish$$
Itaewon
Long-running Turkish restaurant serving halal kebabs, pide and baklava.
Petra Restaurant
Middle Eastern / Lebanese$$
Itaewon
Popular halal Middle Eastern eatery with shawarma, hummus and mezze near the mosque.
Hotels
Where to stay in Seoul
Picks for every budget.
Luxury
Grand Hyatt Seoul
Hannam-dong (Namsan)
Five-star hotel on Namsan slopes a short distance from Itaewon's halal district.
Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
Jangchung-dong (Namsan)
Upscale resort-style hotel with relax pools on the eastern edge of Mount Namsan.
Mid-range
Hamilton Hotel Itaewon
Itaewon
Well-known midrange hotel beside Itaewon station and the halal restaurant streets.
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel
Itaewon
Stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Itaewon close to the mosque and dining.
Budget
H Hostel Itaewon
Itaewon
Budget hostel a short walk from Itaewon station with dorm and private rooms.
Cube Guesthouse Itaewon
Itaewon
Inexpensive guesthouse steps from Itaewon's halal eateries and the mosque.
Know before you go
The essentials
Everything a Muslim traveller needs to land in Seoul with confidence.
Getting in
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
• AREX airport railroad, ~43 min (Express) to Seoul Station; ~60 min all-stop
• Airport limousine bus, 60-90 min depending on traffic and district
• Taxi / Kakao T, 60-80 min
Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
• Subway (lines 5 & 9) / AREX, 30-50 min to the centre
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.
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 June
High ~27°C · Low ~18°C
Warm and increasingly humid; the summer monsoon (jangma) rains usually begin in late June.
Light, breathable clothing and a compact umbrella; quick-drying shoes once the rains start.
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
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.
Where to pray
Seoul Central Mosque: 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 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.
Getting here
Travelling from a major halal market?
Most halal-expo buyers and exhibitors fly in from the world's main halal hubs. Here's how to reach Seoul from each. Entry rules vary by nationality, so check the Visa & entry note.
See the full Seoul travel guide →
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
About the Organiser
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026?
- The Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo (K-HALAL) is the flagship event for Korean exporters targeting Muslim-majority markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Held at COEX in Seoul, the expo showcases Korean halal-certified food products, K-beauty cosmetics compliant with halal standards, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Features import buyers from Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and includes the Korea Halal Industry Week conference programme.
- When is Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026?
- The dates for Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 have not been announced yet. Dates TBA.
- Where is Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 held?
- Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 is held at COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea.
- Who organises Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026?
- Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 is organised by Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
- What industries does Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 cover?
- Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 covers Events & Shows, Business Development, Industry Insights.
- Who should attend Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026?
- Korea International Halal Food & Cosmetics Expo 2026 is most relevant to Halal certification bodies, Importers, distributors & wholesalers, Retail & procurement buyers and Halal trade buyers across East Asia.
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