This study evaluated the perception of images and emotions of Korean food in nine countries. Intercultural patterns were identified through PCA and AHC of principal components. Korea showed a traditional-emotional orientation in which images such as “rich in fermented foods”, “nutritionally balanced”, and “various side dishes” were linked to emotions such as “like a mother’s home-cooked meal”, and “sharing affection”. On the other hand, the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore emphasized sensory-practical aspects, such as “tastes well”, “comfortable”, and “colorful”, and linked them to emotions such as “comfort” and “healthy”. Cluster analysis placed these eight countries in separate clusters, along with Korea. These results highlight the cultural differences in imageemotional interactions and support customized globalization and marketing strategies.