Event showcases high-nutrition, low-carbon seafood products

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, local governments fund initiative

The Blue Food Value-Up Day event is held at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday. [Busan Technopark]
The Blue Food Value-Up Day event is held at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday. [Busan Technopark]

The Blue Food Value-Up Day, a showcase event tied to a national seafood company development program, was held Tuesday afternoon at the Busan Port Convention Center. Organized by Busan city and run by Busan Technopark, the event brought together companies and officials to share results from the program and discuss ways to expand market access across regions.

"Blue food" refers to high-nutrition, low-carbon seafood products. The seafood company development program, launched in 2024, is funded jointly by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and local governments through national and municipal budgets. It supports small and micro seafood businesses across the full cycle of growth — from new product development and safety and reliability testing to branding, marketing and market entry — with the goal of raising their value and strengthening their global competitiveness.

Companies selected from across the country — including from Busan, Gyeonggi Province, South Chungcheong Province and South Gyeongsang Province — presented their achievements in new product development, technology advancement, retail and marketing, and market expansion. Highlights included a range of new products such as high-functional seafood items, home meal replacements and low-sodium convenience foods, as well as commercialization success stories including placements in major retail channels and the securing of new distribution outlets.

A keynote address explored the future growth potential of the seafood industry. Lee Ki-won, a professor at Seoul National University, spoke on the theme of "Busan × Blue Food Tech × Culture Platform," outlining the industrial value of blue food and the potential for convergence among food technology, culture and platform industries, and proposing strategies to grow the sector and sharpen its competitiveness.

Busan city and Busan Technopark said they plan to use the event as a springboard to support technology-based product development and market entry for seafood companies, while deepening inter-regional cooperation and strengthening investment and distribution linkages.

Seo Hyeong-pil, acting head of Busan Technopark, said he hopes the Blue Food Value-Up Day will grow into a forum that connects regions, companies and academia — not just a venue for individual firms to report results. "We will back innovation and market entry for seafood companies and create new growth opportunities for the blue food industry through inter-regional cooperation," he said.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com