What is the new Korea Eximbank financing program for Gangwon Province K-food exporters?

Korea Eximbank is giving participating companies loans at preferential rates under an MOU with the Gangwon Provincial Government. Gangwon Province reimburses the bank for part of the interest-rate reduction, and Sejun F&B in Hongcheon is the first beneficiary.

Why is Sejun F&B expanding its export markets beyond the Middle East and Southeast Asia?

Sejun F&B said it is developing its own brand to build a presence in international markets. CEO Park Seung-yong said the company is actively expanding toward countries like the U.S.

How does this financing push connect to Korea’s processed rice export goal?

The financing comes as rice-based food exports have grown steadily over the past decade, driven by products such as frozen gimbap and tteokbokki. The government wants exports of processed rice products to reach $400 million by 2028.

Korea Eximbank, Gangwon Province launch joint financing push for K-food exporters

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Summary

Korea Eximbank is expanding financial support for Gangwon Province food exporters to help regional companies enter overseas markets. The first beneficiary is Sejun F&B in Hongcheon, which makes rice cakes and nurungji and is building its own brand abroad. The bank signed an MOU with the Gangwon Provincial Government last month to offer preferential loans, with the province covering part of the interest-rate reduction. The effort comes as the government seeks to lift processed rice exports to $400 million by 2028.

Key Facts

Korea Eximbank CEO Hwang Ki-yeon visited Sejun F&B’s production facilities on Friday as part of the lender’s support for overseas expansion by regional K-food businesses.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed last month, Korea Eximbank provides participating companies with loans at preferential rates.
Gangwon Province reimburses the bank for part of the interest-rate reduction under the financing arrangement.
The government has set a goal of raising exports of processed rice products to $400 million by 2028.
Sejun F&B’s CEO Park Seung-yong said the company is expanding its export network beyond the Middle East and Southeast Asia to countries such as the U.S.

By Park Han-sol

Published Sep 14, 2026 1:55 pm KST

Korea Eximbank Chairman and CEO Hwang Ki-yeon, right, tours the production facilities of food manufacturer Sejun F&B in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, Friday. Courtesy of Korea Eximbank

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is expanding financial support for food exporters in Gangwon Province as part of a broader push to help companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area enter overseas markets, the state-run lender said Monday.

The initiative’s first beneficiary is Sejun F&B, a rice-based food manufacturer located in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. A maker of convenience foods including rice cakes and “nurungji” (scorched rice), the company is developing its own brand as it looks to build a presence in international markets.

Korea Eximbank CEO Hwang Ki-yeon visited the food maker’s production facilities, Friday, as part of the bank’s efforts to support the overseas expansion of regional K-food businesses.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last month between Korea Eximbank and the Gangwon Provincial Government, the lender provides participating companies with loans at preferential rates, while Gangwon Province reimburses the bank for part of the interest-rate reduction.

The financing comes as rice-based food exports have grown steadily over the past decade, driven by the rising popularity of products such as frozen “gimbap” (seaweed rice rolls) and “tteokbokki” (chewy rice cakes in spicy sauce). The government has set a goal of raising exports of processed rice products to $400 million by 2028.

“We are actively expanding our export network beyond our traditional markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia to countries like the U.S.,” said Park Seung-yong, CEO of Sejun F&B.

“K-food has evolved into an important new growth engine for Korea’s exports,” Hwang said. “Korea Eximbank will continue expanding tailored financial support for small and midsize companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area to help regional industries compete in global markets.”

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