From October 8 to 10, the 2026 World-OKTA Expo (Shenzhen)—themed "Synergy in the Greater Bay Area: Fostering China-Korea Integration"—was held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, featuring over 350 enterprises from China and South Korea across 11 major industrial sectors. This marked the first time the World-OKTA (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations) brought this global event for Korean businesspeople to China.

The expo features zones for product showcases, business negotiations, investment and cooperation matchmaking, and networking; concurrent events include the China-South Korea Young Entrepreneurs Cooperation Forum, a global forum on startup experiences, and a China-South Korea investment cooperation exchange meeting.

Established in 1981, the World Overseas Korean Traders Association (World-OKTA) has grown over the past 45 years to encompass 159 branches across 77 countries, serving as a vital bridge connecting the global network of Korean businesspeople and the economic strength of the overseas Korean community with domestic industrial resources in South Korea and the global market.

On the opening day of the expo, representatives from South Korean companies visited Shenzhen-based enterprises such as TCL CSOT, BYD, UBTECH, ZTE, BGI Group, and Unilumin Group, gaining firsthand insight into Shenzhen’s manufacturing capabilities, pace of innovation, and supply chain ecosystem.

At the exhibition venue in the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the thriving momentum of industrial synergy between China and South Korea was striking.

Statistics show that the South Korean exhibitors at this event spanned a wide range of sectors, including semiconductors, drones, electronic technology, beauty and skincare/cosmetics, food and beverages, healthcare, tourism services, apparel and textiles, chemical materials, home and lifestyle products, and maternal and child goods. HANAMULSAN Co., Ltd. showcased products such as seaweed and kelp, while representatives from companies in North Chungcheong Province displayed cosmetics, seasoned seaweed, and agricultural products, inviting visitors to sample them. Some companies revealed on-site that they had reached agreements with JD.com and were poised to enter the Chinese market.

For South Korean businesses, Shenzhen serves as a crucial gateway to the Chinese market; the city boasts strong local purchasing power and acts as a hub for the broader Greater Bay Area market. Its robust cross-border e-commerce, livestreaming commerce, and efficient supply chain ecosystems enable rapid business growth.

The expo features a dedicated Shenzhen exhibition zone, where dozens of the city’s iconic heritage brands and local enterprises—such as Bama Tea, Guanxu Electronics, Yongfengyuan Ceramics, Cashmia, and Duodun Food—are exhibiting as a group. This arrangement fosters a dynamic of mutual empowerment between local brands and the "Korean Wave."

Several thematic conferences were held during the expo. Notably, at the 2026 China-South Korea Young Entrepreneur Cooperation and Exchange Meeting on the afternoon of October 9, representatives from South Korean trade and investment organizations engaged in in-depth discussions with innovative Shenzhen enterprises. They explored topics such as synergistic opportunities across China-South Korea technology industry chains, innovation and global expansion in the "beauty economy," and the globalization of "Guochao" (China-chic) consumer trends. These discussions offered insights and proposals to advance China-South Korea economic and trade cooperation—moving beyond the mere exchange of goods and complementary resources toward the deep integration of innovation, industrial, supply, and value chains.

Source: Shenzhen Economic Daily | Reporter: Wang Hairon