According to Yonhap News,

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Chang-yong = Korean food (K-food) franchises gaining popularity in China's coastal regions and major metropolises are targeting expansion into key central inland hub cities.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced on the 6th that it hosted the '2026 China (Zhengzhou·Changsha) Franchise Roadshow' for five days starting from the 31st of last month, alongside nine domestic food service franchise companies.

The event featured seminars on China market entry strategies, one-on-one export consultations, and local market research.

China's food service market demonstrates steady growth, recording sales of CNY 5.8 trillion (USD 828.6 billion / KRW 1,118 trillion) last year.

In particular, central inland hub cities such as Zhengzhou in Henan Province and Changsha in Hunan Province are emerging as promising entry destinations, offering lower store operating cost burdens compared to tier-1 mega-cities alongside surging demand for dining out and food delivery.

Xu Jie, CEO of Zhongtoumeng, a Chinese comprehensive franchise platform, uated, "Korean franchises possess unique menus and brand competitiveness. If coupled with effective localization, they will thoroughly succeed in China's central region as well."

Zhang Xianghai, Head of KOTRA's China Regional Headquarters, stated, "This roadshow serves as a venue for competitive K-franchises to meet influential local partners in inland China and discover new expansion opportunities," adding, "We will support our food service companies so they can achieve tangible results in China's inland market."

changyong@yna.co.kr



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Source Text

Source: Yonhap News (September 06, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.