The International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2025 (IHK2025) opened on 25 April with a clear signal to the global ornamental industry: South Korea is ready to strengthen its role as a hub for floriculture, cross-sector collaboration, and international trade.
Held in the expansive Ilsan Lake Park and running through 11 May, this AIPH-approved 17-day festival combines large-scale public engagement with professional opportunities for growers, breeders, and exporters. Organised by the Goyang International Flower Foundation (GIFF), IHGK 2025 features over 200 exhibitors and participants from 25 countries. Its theme — “Flower, Fantasy, and Fragrance” — runs through a layout that includes themed outdoor gardens and an indoor Industrial Exhibition Hall showcasing national pavilions, new varieties, and technological innovations.
For the first time, GIFF has partnered with KOTRA, Korea’s trade investment agency, to launch an Overseas Buyer Invitation Support Programme — a move that positions IHGK not just as a celebration of plants but as a serious B2B platform for export-focused suppliers and buyers.
As part of the event, a new Cooperation Partnership Agreement was signed between GIFF and the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), formalising collaboration to support the global growth of flower exhibitions, knowledge exchange, and sustainability. GIFF President Mr Chung Heungkyo and AIPH Vice President Dr Holly Peng signed the agreement.
South Korea’s horticultural trade is thriving. In 2023, cut flowers and live plants exports reached €56.2 million, while imports stood at €11.5 million.
The Korean market itself is evolving. With more than 2,700 hectares dedicated to floriculture production, the country is a regional player in cut flowers, pot plants, and flowering trees. Industry data from the AIPH and Union Fleurs Statistical Yearbook shows demand grows for potted plants, indoor greenery, and wellness-driven plant use.
That shift is reflected at IHK2025. The event blends showmanship with strategy, offering high-quality displays, a well-curated exhibition hall, and international access — all in a setting that’s compact, accessible, and appealing to a younger, urban audience.
Representatives from the upcoming Taean International Horticultural-Healing Expo 2026, another AIPH-approved event, also used IHK2025 to connect with global stakeholders, positioning their show as part of Korea’s wider horticultural diplomacy.
In a time when global exhibitions are being redefined, IHK2025 makes a strong case for how regional events can grow international relevance by combining cultural identity, business opportunity, and a focus on what’s next for ornamental horticulture.