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A visit to Korea - prospects for the development of Polish agricultural export

29.09.2025

The support for Polish food producers interested in exporting to the Republic of Korea and measures aimed at expanding access to this market for Polish agri-food products are the major objectives of the visit paid by Undersecretary of State Adam Nowak to the Republic of Korea, which was held on 24-26 September 2025. Deputy Minister Nowak was accompanied by the Chief Veterinary Officer Krzysztof Jażdżewski. The meetings were also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Korea Bartosz Wiśniewski. This has been the fourth visit of the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture to that country in the previous two years.

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Poland-Korea Business Forum 2025

On 25 September 2025, Undersecretary of State Adam Nowak participated in the Poland-Korea Business Forum 2025 organised in Seoul by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

In the opening speech, Deputy Minister Nowak pointed out that Polish exporters perceived the Republic of Korea as one of the most prospective foreign markets. He expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of bilateral economic cooperation and the increase in the export of agri-food products to the Republic of Korea. He indicated the success of Polish milk and milk products on that market.

The head of the delegation of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture stressed the need to balance the negative Polish balance in total trade by completing access procedures for further categories of Polish agricultural products, including beef.

The forum was attended by several Polish companies from the agri-food sector, as well as representatives of the Polish and Korean administration: president of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency Andrzej Dycha, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Korea Bartosz Wiśniewski, Vice-President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Sang Yeob Kang, President of the Korea Importers Association Young Mi Youn.

The forum was an opportunity to talk with the numerously represented Polish meat industry about the prospects of development of Polish agricultural export to the Korean market.

Talks with representatives of the Korean administration

On 25 and 26 September 2025, Deputy Minister Nowak held meetings with Kim Yongjae, Director General of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and Kim Junghee, Commissioner of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).

The result of the talks between the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Korean partners is:

  • Agreement on the text of the new model certificate for poultry meat extended to include thermally processed poultry meat (after formal approval by the Korean authorities, it will be possible to export this product from the first two Polish establishments inspected in 2024);
  • Declaration by the Korean party to carry out an audit of pork sector entities located in the first ASF zone (i.e. the zone free from African swine fever outbreaks but bordering on restricted areas) in order to enable the export of pork from all African swine fever free zones;
  • Declaration by the Korean party to carry out, by February 2026 at the latest, an audit:
  • in dairy establishments interested in extending their range of products shipped to the Republic of Korea to include new products;
  • in establishments producing egg products;

Once a declaration on undergoing the Korean inspection has been obtained from establishments interested in exporting milk and egg products, an audit procedure will be initiated immediately.

  • Acceleration of the approval of poultry and pork establishments (in this case, there is no need to carry out an audit by Korean inspectors, however, it is essential to complete applications properly by establishments applying for approval);
  • Declaration to accelerate the procedure of access of beef to the Korean market. At present, the analyses of the audit of the Veterinary Inspection supervision in the beef sector have been successfully completed.

During the meetings, the representatives of the Korean party reassured that cooperation with Poland would be treated as a priority due to the strategic partnership between the two countries and intense bilateral cooperation in other sectors of the economy.

Further measures will be agreed through bilateral working contacts and in cooperation with the Polish establishments concerned.

Trade in agri-food products with the Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korea is a very important partner among the countries of East Asia. In view of the high dependence on imported food, this country is a very prospective outlet market for Poland.

In recent years, the agri-food export to the Republic of Korea has demonstrated an upward trend. In 2024, it reached the level of EUR 93 million (an increase by 13% y/y). We export mainly milk (31% of the export value of total agri-food trade) and potato starch. Moreover, Poland supplies beer and chocolate as well as other products containing cocoa to the Korean market.

In 2024, the agri-food export from Poland to the Republic of Korea reached the level of EUR 47.5 million. We mainly imported cakes, tea and coffee extracts and mineral waters.

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