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“A World Tour of Flavors: Roll the Dice and Taste the World” — Busan International Food Expo and Busan Marina Chef Challenge Open October 9!

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that the 23rd Busan International Food Expo (BIFE 2026) and the 9th Busan Marina Chef Challenge (BMCC 2026) will be held simultaneously for three days from October 9 to 11 at Exhibition Center 1 of BEXCO.

Celebrating its 23rd edition this year, the Busan International Food Expo (BIFE 2026) will be held under the theme “A World Tour of Flavors: Roll the Dice and Taste the World.” Visitors will become players in a giant board game, embarking on a journey to discover the diverse flavors of Busan and destinations around the world. The entire venue will be designed like a single board game, allowing visitors to explore a variety of global food cultures through exhibitions, food, and hands-on programs.

Major areas of the venue will include the World Food Village, which introduces cuisine from countries around the world; Sweet Land, showcasing Busan’s outstanding bakeries; Seafood Port, dedicated to seafood dishes; Experience School, offering interactive programs for visitors; Delicious Dining, a premium dining area; and the Delicious Busan Zone, highlighting the appeal of Busan’s local gastronomy.

In particular, the World Food Village will feature organizations and businesses related to Japan, France, Italy, and Vietnam, introducing local cuisine and culture from each country. A total of 230 booths will participate in this year’s expo.

At Delicious Dining, restaurants from Busan will collaborate to present special menus. On October 10, Sogonggan, Shinbalwon, and Samsong Sushi will participate, while Sogonggan and Shunsai Kubo will take part on October 11, offering visitors distinctive culinary experiences.

A diverse lineup of cooking shows featuring renowned Korean chefs and Korean master artisans will also take place throughout the three-day event.

On October 9, Korean Culinary Master Park Hyo-nam, Chef Park Ki-seop of Sogonggan in Busan, Chef Kim Sang-jin of Outro by Vito, and Jeong Jin-ho, CEO of Corduroy Fellaz, will present the “Busan Ingredients Collaboration Cooking Show,” showcasing dishes that reflect their individual styles using ingredients from Busan and other local products.

On October 10, celebrity chef Sam Kim and Chef Kwon Seong-jun, known as “Napoli Matfia,” will take the stage together for a celebrity chef cooking show. This will be followed by another cooking show featuring Norwegian chef Kristine Ovrebo and Chef Ahn Jong-seong.

On October 11, Chefs Cho Seo-hyeong and Kwak Dong-hun will present the “Busan × Seoul Street Cooking Show,” using Korean beef provided by the Korean Beef Checkoff Management Committee. A “Temple Banquet Cooking Show” featuring the Beomeosa Seon Culture Education Center will also be held, introducing visitors to a range of cuisines and culinary traditions.

Now in its ninth year, the Busan Marina Chef Challenge (BMCC 2026) is an international culinary competition endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). Approximately 600 competitors from Korea and abroad, including professional chefs and culinary students, will compete to demonstrate their skills.

The competition will feature individual and team live cooking contests, display competitions, and a K-FOOD Festival. In particular, 50 overseas teams comprising approximately 60 competitors from Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries are expected to participate this year, providing a venue for culinary professionals from Korea and abroad to compete, exchange expertise, and build connections.

A total of 42 judges from Korea and abroad will evaluate the competitions according to international standards. They will include 18 invited international judges from Switzerland, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Mongolia, Norway, and other countries.

For more information, contact the Busan International Food Expo Secretariat at 051-711-0053 or the Busan Marina Chef Challenge Secretariat at 051-243-9366, or visit the Busan International Food Expo website at www.bife.kr or the Busan Marina Chef Challenge website at www.busanmcc.com.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director-General of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “This year’s Busan International Food Expo, themed ‘A World Tour of Flavors: Roll the Dice and Taste the World,’ has been designed to let visitors enjoy everything from the flavors of Busan to diverse culinary cultures from around the world in one place.”

He added, “Together with the Busan Marina Chef Challenge, we hope the event will become a festival where chefs from Korea and abroad, residents, and tourists connect and engage through food while experiencing the diverse flavors and appeal of Busan.”