“Taste, learn and cook” ... NS Food Festa to be held in Iksan over two days

[Financial News] The food culture festival “NS Food Festa 2026 Iksan” opened on the 16th at Harim First Kitchen in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. This year’s event will run for two days, with around 20 programs, including the National Cooking Contest, food industry experiences and local partnership programs.
Industry sources said on the 16th that NS Shopping and Iksan City are jointly hosting “NS Food Festa 2026 Iksan” from that day through the 17th. Now in its 19th year, the event is being held with participation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Foundation for Cooperation between Large and Small Businesses, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Affairs, and Harim Group, among others.
The general division of the National Cooking Contest, the festival’s main event, took place on the first day. Sixty teams competed for 60 minutes under the theme “The best recipe using fresh ingredients,” and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s “Samsamhan Cooking Contest” is also being held. The family division, with 60 teams, will follow on the 17th.
The venue featured a “Fresh Market” showcasing products from Harim Group food affiliates, including Harim, Sunjin, Farmsco, Juwonsan Duck and Hangang Food, as well as an Odd Grocer pop-up zone and a Homeplus Express brand zone. The “Youth Startup Festa 2026” for local youth-led food businesses and farms, a promotional sales pavilion for local food and processed agricultural products, and partnership booths were also set up.
A “Gourmet Tour” of Harim First Kitchen’s production facilities was also held. Visitors explored the 36,000-pyeong production complex, including its noodle and instant rice production lines, with explanations from docents.
Side events included a “Chogye Buckwheat Noodle Cooking Show” by master chef An Yu-seong and an interactive program with Shin Seung-ju, Iksan’s first kimchi master. On the 17th, events will continue with a food culture lecture and cooking class by broadcaster Seo Kyung-seok, “Challenge! Food Golden Bell,” performances and more.
Those attending the opening ceremony that afternoon included Iksan Mayor Choi Jeong-ho, Vice Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Yong-jae, Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-kuk and NS Shopping CEO Jo Hang-mok.
“K-food’s competitiveness comes not only from outstanding food manufacturing technology but also from local food cultures, diverse food offerings and the passion of people who continually explore new flavors,” said Jo Hang-mok, CEO of NS Shopping. “We will work to help NS Food Festa grow into a festival that promotes the value and diversity of K-food and helps build the future of the food industry.”

[email protected] Kim Hyun-ji Reporter