K-EXPO France 2026 arrived alongside the Parisian heat on 16-19th June, exploring ‘All About K-Culture’. Over four days in the heart of summer, the event proved to be much more than a simple celebration of the Korean wave. Built around the theme “A Journey of K-Culture, Connected as One,” the expo, spanning publishing and K-food to beauty, technology, and a K-pop concert, brought together the many facets of Korean culture and presented its growing influence around the world.

The expo programme was delivered through the event’s six themed exhibition zones, K-IP Discovery, K-Tech Connect, K-Beauty Boutique, K-Collaboration, K-Content showcase and K-Food Market.

Among the aforementioned themes, K-IP Discovery explored the storytelling worlds behind webtoons, publishing and character-based media. K-Tech Connect turned attention towards innovation, AI and immersive experiences. K-Beauty Boutique remained one of the busiest spaces, drawing visitors through skincare, cosmetics and lifestyle branding. K-Collaboration Zone placed emphasis on partnership and exchange, while the K-Content Showcase celebrated the screen and music industries that first introduced so many global audiences to Korean culture. The K-Food Market, meanwhile, became one of the most attended areas of the expo, where tastings, displays and product launches transformed culinary curiosity into direct engagement with consumers.

One of the most significant moments of the programme was the official visit by South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Choi Hwi-young, whose presence confirmed the event’s significance as more than a public festival. It positioned K-EXPO France as a space for cultural diplomacy and international collaboration, reflecting the importance of framing culture as creative expression and global dialogue from a Korean perspective. Actor and chef Ryu Soo-young added warmth and made the official programme more welcoming, thanks to his popularity with visitors.

The talks programme featured some of the most thoughtful moments of the event. The K-Food talks enriched the culinary side of the expo, with discussions on heritage, flavour and the global rise of Korean cuisine, including appearances by Ryu Soo-young and the K-Sea Food Cooking Show on the main stage.

The K-Book talks brought literature into focus, with an in conversation with the winner of the Original Story Award and the Changbi X Kakaopage Young Adult Novel Award, Park Soyoung. Discussing her book Snowglobe, moderated by Cho Dae-han, proved to be a welcome reminder that Korean storytelling extends well beyond television and film.

Across the expo, local K-pop dancers and fans participated in Random K-pop Dance Plays, capturing the great atmosphere of bringing together people from all backgrounds and cultures to share their love and appreciation for the Korean wave, signifying the importance of celebrating 140 years of relations between Korea and France. Attendees enjoyed and participated in popular K-pop dances, dissolved the often found barrier between stage and crowd, turning the public itself into part of the performance, attracting large crowds.

Between the Expo dates, on the evening of 17 June, one of the key highlights was the SBS Inkigayo K-pop concert, bringing together TAEMIN, Stella Jang, MONSTA X, NCT WISH, 82MAJOR, and Hearts2Hearts.

Following the concert, on 18–19 June, the Business Matchmaking programme took place as part of K-EXPO France 2026, showing that this wasn’t just an exhibition alongside an industry event, but a space where business and collaboration all came together. Alongside the public showcases, the expo also gave Korean companies and European partners time to meet, share ideas and explore future opportunities, adding a quieter but important layer to the weekend.

By the end, K-EXPO France 2026 succeeded in presenting Korean culture as an ecosystem rather than a list of export successes. The event showed K-culture as connected and collaborative, working naturally with France and standing on its own stage.

Written by Amran Mohamed

Featured image courtesy of K-EXPO FRANCE

_{This event is jointly delivered by a total of 4 ministries and 7 organisations, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KOCCA}

_{(Co-hosts) Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries}

_{Ministry of Health and Welfare (Co-organisers), Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), Korea Tourism Organization}

_{Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA); King Sejong Institute Foundation; Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (agro / seafood); Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute; Korean Cultural Center in France}

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}