Business · Trade · 57 mins ago
Italy’s trade agency sees K-food as a route to wider trade with South Korea
Raimondo Lucariello, the new head of the Italian Trade Agency’s Seoul office, wants to use K-food’s popularity to deepen Italy-South Korea trade.
He said the agency plans to offer more wine-tasting classes tailored to South Koreans.
The focus reflects Italy’s interest in using food and wine to reach consumers in South Korea, where Italian exports have traditionally included food, fashion, luxury goods and industrial machinery.
The agency also promotes Italian products through High Street Italia, its permanent showroom in southern Seoul.
Italy exported US$6.66 billion in goods to South Korea in 2025.
Lucariello said the countries could build new business by combining Italy’s strengths with South Korea’s in semiconductors, batteries and advanced manufacturing.
He has begun a four-year term and said he ultimately wants to expand Italian exports across all sectors.
Italy’s trade agency plans to use South Korea’s interest in K-food to build broader trade ties, particularly in wine.
New Seoul commissioner Raimondo Lucariello said the agency will offer more wine-tasting classes tailored to South Koreans.
He said Italy also wants to expand exports across all sectors and develop opportunities by combining the countries’ industrial strengths.
Italy exported US$6.66 billion worth of goods to South Korea in 2025.
- Who
- Raimondo Lucariello, the new commissioner of the Seoul office of the Italian Trade Agency.
- What
- The agency sees K-food as a way to strengthen trade ties, particularly in wine, and plans more wine-tasting classes for South Koreans.
- When
- Lucariello spoke in a recent interview published Nov. 7, 2026.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- The agency wants to expand Italian exports and create business opportunities by drawing on the countries’ complementary strengths.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Italian Trade Agency opened a smaller promotional facility in Taipei.
Lucariello posed for a photo at an event in Seoul marking the agency’s 100th anniversary.
Yonhap published its interview with Lucariello about expanding trade ties with South Korea.
- ITA anniversary
- 100th anniversary
- Lucariello’s term
- Four years
- Italy’s exports to South Korea
- US$6.66 billion in 2025
- Seoul showroom
- High Street Italia
- South Korea’s strengths
- Semiconductors, batteries and advanced manufacturing
1 source
What people are saying
We plan to focus more on the wine sector, which is such an important part of Italian culture
In the long run, I clearly want to expand exports across all sectors