- “2026 K-EXPO FRANCE” to be jointly held in Paris from June 16 to 19 by relevant ministries

- Concert featuring popular K-pop artists—including TAEMIN, MONSTA X, Hearts2Hearts, and NCT WISH—to be held on June 17 as a flagship event marking the 140th anniversary

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), in cooperation with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and other relevant organizations, will host “2026 K-EXPO FRANCE” in Paris, France, from June 16 to 19. On the occasion of the expo, MCST Minister CHAE Hwi-young will visit Paris to inspect the venue and meet with the French Minister of Culture and the heads of major cultural and artistic institutions to discuss issues of mutual interest between the two countries.

The K-EXPO is a comprehensive trade fair that brings together K-pop concerts, industry exhibitions and hands-on experiences, and corporate export consultations to support the overseas expansion of K-culture industries in tandem across content, food, beauty, fashion, tourism, and other sectors. In particular, the K-pop concert held alongside this year’s expo has been organized as a flagship event commemorating the 140th anniversary of Korea–France diplomatic relations, under the theme of “Companionship, Romance, and Gratitude” between the two countries.

Consumer-Facing Exhibitions Showcase K-Culture’s Present and Future, from Korean Subways and Hiking Trails to Hangang Ramyeon and AI Films

First, from June 16 to 18, “consumer-facing exhibitions” featuring institutions and companies from a wide range of fields will be held at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, one of Paris’s signature international event venues, presenting the present and future of K-culture. Netflix will operate a joint pavilion with 12 companies and institutions that have used popular Netflix content—such as KPop Demon Hunters, Squid Game, and Culinary Class Wars—in their product sales and promotions. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will recreate a Korean subway and hiking trail to promote Korea’s four seasons and, in collaboration with Korean Air, operate an aircraft-seat experience zone. Visitors in France will also encounter a convenience-store-style “K-food” experience zone offering tastings of items such as Hangang ramyeon and vegan kimchi; a promotion and experience zone for Korean seafood products such as gim (Korean laver) snacks; a promotion booth featuring King Sejong Institute students learning Korean in France; a “K-cosmetics” experience zone; a Nongshim brand pavilion; and a “K-book” exhibition. This year’s expo will also spotlight Korea’s latest AI and immersive content technologies. Highlights include an AI film and animation experience zone featuring CJ ENM and 11 new-technology content companies, an immersive augmented reality (AR) book content exhibition, and a digital exhibition presenting French luxury fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton alongside premium Korean craft brands through immersive video.

In addition, on June 18 and 19, side events will include a cooking show themed on K-seafood products, a storytelling program on Korean cuisine featuring actor RYU Soo-young—a well-known advocate of Korean cuisine—a demonstration of Korean skincare methods, lectures by invited Korean authors, and a “K-pop Random Play Dance.” Export consultations will also be held with a total of 46 companies, including 36 content companies and 10 beauty companies.

In particular, on June 17, a K-pop concert will be held featuring a large lineup of K-pop artists popular in France, including TAEMIN, MONSTA X, Hearts2Hearts, NCT WISH, Stella Jang, and 82MAJOR. The event will open with a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of diplomatic relations, attended by the culture ministers of both countries, followed by performances in which popular K-pop artists present French songs beloved in Korea and Korean songs beloved in France, highlighting the friendship and cultural exchange between the two nations.

Following K-EXPO, Korea–France Cooperation Expected to Expand Through the Lumière Summit in September

Minister CHAE stated, “It is deeply meaningful to jointly introduce, across ministries, the fresh and diverse appeal of K-culture to France, with which Korea has shared 140 years of cultural exchange.” He added, “I hope that the film and audiovisual summit, ‘Lumière Summit,’ to be co-hosted by Korea and France this September, will further deepen and expand cooperation between the two countries.”