At 2026 Food Week Korea, companies can receive up to 200 million won in support and access a pan-government counterfeit response
Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. is stepping up its promotion of the K-Brand Government Certification program and pushing to expand corporate participation.
The corporation announced Wednesday that it is taking part in 2026 Food Week Korea, held at COEX in Seoul from Wednesday through Saturday, to showcase products bearing the national authentication trademark under the program and to explain how the system works and how companies can apply it to their own products.
Companies interested in joining the program can visit the exhibition hall during the event to see the national authentication trademark in action on products from major Korean firms — including Samyang Foods, Jung Kwan Jang, Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care — and to receive one-on-one consultations on applying the system to their own product lines.
The K-Brand Government Certification program was introduced to prevent Korean companies from suffering losses due to counterfeit goods overseas and to provide government-level support when such incidents occur.
Once the national authentication trademark is affixed to a product, overseas consumers can verify its authenticity using a smartphone camera without installing a separate app. Verification results feed into a real-time government monitoring system, and when an infringement is confirmed, the government directly requests that local authorities take action — including investigations, crackdowns and customs holds. The program establishes a pan-government response framework for overseas counterfeiting, a problem individual companies have long struggled to address on their own.
Participating companies can receive government subsidies covering up to 50 percent of authentication technology adoption costs, with a maximum of 200 million won ($149,000) per company. Eligible recipients are small and midsize export companies that meet the relevant requirements, and the actual subsidy amount is determined based on company size, project type, review results and available budget. Large companies may also participate but must bear the full cost of adopting the authentication technology themselves.
Applications and further details are available through the K-Brand Government Certification program application system. The application period closes at 6 p.m. Monday.
"The K-Brand Government Certification program is designed to ease the burden on companies dealing with overseas counterfeits and to protect the brand value of Korean businesses," President Seong Chang-hun said. "Visiting the 2026 Food Week Korea exhibition hall allows you to see the national authentication trademark and how it works in person, and to receive tailored consultations on how to apply it to your products. We hope many export companies will take an interest and get involved."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
