On August 25, 2026, CPHI/Hi Korea 2026, a highly anticipated global expo for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health functional sectors, officially opened at COEX Seoul. Organized by the renowned global exhibition organizer Informa Markets Korea, the event features The Pharmaceutical News and other authoritative media outlets as official media partners. Running for three days from August 25 to 27, the exhibition spans Halls C and E, as well as The Plaza Hall at COEX Seoul, building a high-level platform for exchange and collaboration across the global biopharmaceutical and health industries.
As a key bellwether for the biopharmaceutical sector in Asia and beyond, this year's edition has demonstrated exceptional international reach and industry appeal. Statistics show that the event has brought together 478 leading companies from 22 countries, including South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Germany, India, and Switzerland. These exhibitors will showcase the latest technologies and innovative products in APIs, finished dosage forms, biologics, CDMO, health functional ingredients and products, laboratory and analytical equipment, and pharmaceutical packaging. Notably, the international draw of the event continues to surge. Data indicates that overseas pre-registered visitors now account for 19.6% of the total, a significant jump of 5.6 percentage points from 14.0% last year, marking a four-year high. Furthermore, professional visitors from 88 countries worldwide have completed pre-registration, fully underscoring CPHI/Hi Korea's pivotal role as a core hub in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Beyond the exhibition floor, the event is concurrently hosting a series of high-level academic conferences and industry forums that have drawn considerable attention. The Policy Forum of the Korea National Bio-Innovation Committee will be held during the expo, providing macro-level policy guidance for industry development. Meanwhile, targeting the most cutting-edge technologies in the global biopharmaceutical field, the organizing committee has meticulously planned specialized seminars covering six core tracks, including next-generation drug modalities such as ADCs and TPD, as well as microneedle technology, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and export strategies for health functional foods. These forums not only provide a platform for intellectual exchange among industry experts, scholars, and corporate executives but will also profoundly shape the strategic direction of global pharmaceutical R&D and commercialization in the coming years.
The expo has attracted active participation from numerous leading domestic and international companies. In the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, industry heavyweights such as Daewoong Pharmaceutical, GC Green Cross, Ildong Pharmaceutical, Samsung Biologics, Hanlim Pharmaceutical, and Boehringer Ingelheim Korea are all present. Additionally, a host of biotech firms with strong innovative vitality in niche segments—including Pfenex, Sam-A Pharm, Bioneer, BioSolution, Caregen, Raphas, Juviss, and CursorBio—have gathered to showcase the vibrant dynamism of the biopharmaceutical industry in Korea and globally. In the health functional foods and ingredients sector, renowned domestic and international enterprises such as Seohung, Kolmar BNH, Samyang Foods, Synergy Bio, and global life science giant Merck Life Science have set up dedicated exhibition zones. Through technical seminars and open innovation programs, they are presenting their latest R&D achievements and commercialization strategies in the health consumer market.
In recent years, the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health functional food industries have encountered unprecedented opportunities for growth, driven by accelerating global population aging and a comprehensive rise in health awareness. The Korean government highly values the strategic position of the bio-economy, continuously increasing policy support and capital investment, which has steadily enhanced Korea's standing in the global biopharmaceutical supply chain. The successful launch of CPHI/Hi Korea 2026 not only provides a premier stage for global pharmaceutical companies to showcase cutting-edge technologies and expand into international markets but also further consolidates Seoul's status as an innovation hub for biopharmaceuticals in Asia. Over the next three days, this major industry event will continue in full swing at COEX Seoul, expected to facilitate more cross-border technological collaborations and commercial orders, injecting strong new momentum into the high-quality development of the global pharmaceutical and health industries.