'18 Trillion Won Export Jackpot' for K-Food... Food Safety Technology Gap Widens Between Large and Small Companies

From Reactive to Preventive: Managing Food Safety with AI and IoT
Expansion of Real-Time Management Systems Such as Smart HACCP and Food QR
Rapid Adoption by Major Food Corporations vs. Financial Struggles for Small Food Companies

Shinsegae Food's 'Food Safety Center'.
Photo by Shinsegae Food

Advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing are transforming food safety policies. With real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making now possible, the system is being reorganized to detect and prevent crises in advance.

According to the industry on October 7, both the government and the private sector are rapidly shifting from traditional, reactive approaches to a digital, prevention-oriented management system.

The Food QR service is a representative example. Consumers can instantly check information such as the country of origin, ingredients, and allergens by scanning a QR code. The HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) system is also evolving from manual processes to advanced systems based on automated records and sensors. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is implementing a smart HACCP management model to establish a system that can detect and prevent abnormal signs at an early stage.

The government has also announced plans to expand global HACCP certification, which is recognized in major distribution channels such as those in the United States and Europe. The strategy aims not only to meet domestic standards but also to establish a world-class quality management system, thereby providing stable support for the export competitiveness of K-Food.

Cho Taejin, a professor in the Department of Food and Biotechnology at Korea University, stated, "As the paradigm of food safety policy has shifted to prevention, technology-based systems are not an option but a necessity. Environmental monitoring that enables real-time detection and prediction will become a core pillar of policy."

Lotte Mart Grand Grocery Eunpyeong Branch agricultural produce display view.
Photo by Lotte Mart

Industry: "Survival Is Impossible Without Digital Transformation"... Infrastructure Lacking for Small Food Companies

This policy shift is also reaching the industry. For food companies, digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity. In particular, large corporations are rapidly adopting related technologies. As automated record management, sensor monitoring, and big data inspection technologies become more widespread, both the speed and accuracy of inspections have greatly improved. Variables that could easily be missed by conventional sampling inspections can now be identified in advance. Experts note that a precise and proactive management system is becoming a reality.

Park Junyoung, the head of Neogen Korea, said, "Just as technological advancement is important, so is how effectively it is applied in the field. To support policy direction, the industry's ability to execute must go hand in hand."

However, the situation is different for small food companies. Due to burdens related to workforce, costs, and a lack of technological infrastructure, they are struggling to adopt digital systems. As a result, the gap in food safety management levels is emerging as another risk factor. The industry consensus is that support measures for small companies and the design of user-friendly systems must accompany technology adoption, rather than simply introducing new technologies.

Last year, the export value of K-Food Plus, including domestic agricultural and food products, reached 13.03 billion dollars, an increase of 6.1% from the previous year-a record high. As global standards for food safety continue to rise, there are growing calls for policy support to ensure that the entire food industry can equally benefit from technological advancements. Professor Cho Taejin emphasized, "Food safety is not just a matter for individual companies, but an issue directly linked to the entire national economy. Institutional measures must be established to provide rapid and easy response tools, such as environmental monitoring for foodborne pathogens."