South Korea to invest US$10M to building cultivated meat research center
The facility in Uiseong County is set to support research, production, and regulatory approval for cell-cultured foods.
SOUTH KOREA – South Korea is establishing its first dedicated research center for cultivated meat, with Uiseong County securing the project and receiving US$10 million (₩14.5 billion) in government funding.
The Food Tech Research Support Center, which will cover 2,660 square meters, is expected to open in 2027.
It will receive US$3.6 million (₩5.25 billion) from the center itself, while the North Gyeongsang and Uiseong County governments will contribute the remaining funds.
The facility will be located in the Bio Valley General Industrial Complex in Uiseong County.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) selected the county for the project through its competition for food technology research and development centers.
The center aims to assist businesses in refining their production methods, increasing output, and navigating regulatory approval.
South Korea is positioning itself as a leader in alternative protein technology in Asia.
Mirte Gosker, managing director at the Good Food Institute (GFI) APAC, explains that MAFRA is developing several facilities to advance food technology.
Companies and partnerships emerging around the center
The research center plans to develop a system capable of producing up to 100 kilograms of cultivated meat annually while creating 60 jobs.
Gyeongbuk Technopark will oversee the facility’s operations.
It will provide resources for research, commercial-scale production, and prototype development.
It will also offer mass cultivation equipment, regulatory assistance, and quality control infrastructure for the cultivated meat industry.
According to Gyeongbuk Ilbo, 11 companies, including SeaWith, Micro Digital, and LMK, have shown interest in operating within the center.
Partner institutions such as Yeungnam University and the Animal Cell Proof-of-Sale Support Center will also be involved.
The facility is adjacent to the Cell Culture Industry Support Center, which opened in 2023.
South Korea moves toward cultivated meat approval
The new research center is part of broader plans to strengthen the province’s economy by establishing itself as a food technology hub.
A production facility for culture media has also been set up to support industries focused on cell-culture materials and equipment.
Local authorities are planning public awareness campaigns to increase acceptance of cultivated meat.
Government polling indicates that 90% of South Koreans are willing to try cultivated meat, and 40% support its sale in supermarkets and restaurants.
Beyond North Gyeongsang, other food technology support centers have been established in Iksan for alternative foods and Naju for food upcycling.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is investing US$21 million (₩29 billion) into research on plant-based and cultivated seafood.
Companies such as Pulmuone and Umami Bioworks have announced plans to produce cultivated fish in the country.
South Korea is expected to approve its first cultivated meat product in 2025.
CellMEAT submitted its application in early 2024, and the review process, estimated at one year, is nearing completion.
If approved, other companies may follow, similar to developments in Singapore and the United States.
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