Italy's new trade chief in Seoul eyes wine and K-food ties

Raimondo Lucariello, the new commissioner of the Seoul office of the Italian Trade Agency, said Thursday that Korean food could lead to wider commercial links between Italy and South Korea, South Korea's national news agency Yonhap reported.

Lucariello said the agency will concentrate more on wine, which he described as central to Italian culture.

The agency plans to hold wine-tasting classes designed for South Koreans, whom he called "great drinkers of soju," the country's traditional distilled liquor.

He also praised the global appeal of Korean food, music and films, saying Italy has much to learn from Seoul's success in promoting its cultural content abroad.

The Italian Trade Agency is a public body that helps Italian companies enter overseas markets and promotes Italian goods and businesses abroad.

Its High Street Italia showroom in southern Seoul, a permanent Made in Italy promotional space and lifestyle complex, forms a key part of that work.

The site is the agency's only showroom of its kind worldwide, apart from a smaller facility in Taipei that opened two months ago.

Lucariello, who has begun a four-year term as commissioner, said he had pushed for the Seoul showroom while working as a public official in Italy.

"In the long run, I clearly want to expand exports across all sectors," he said.

Italy exported $6.66 billion worth of goods to South Korea in 2025, mainly luxury goods, fashion, food and industrial machinery, while South Korea is strong in semiconductors, batteries and advanced manufacturing.

Lucariello said the two countries could create new business by combining their complementary industrial strengths across different sectors.

The remarks came as the agency marks the 100th anniversary of its founding.