Government to Launch 'Korean CES'... Merge Semiconductor, Electronics and Robotics Exhibitions

Bringing electronics, semiconductors and robotics together under AI to create large-scale exhibitions
Combining K-culture and regional growth engines to attract overseas buyers
Support budget increased from KRW 7 billion to KRW 11.7 billion

Aerial view of KINTEX in Ilsan

The government plans to develop world-class national exhibitions covering advanced industries such as electronics, semiconductors and robotics by 2030. It will also identify flagship regional exhibitions that combine regional growth engines with culture and tourism, and support domestic exhibition businesses in expanding overseas. The plan is to transform exhibitions from simple venues for trading goods into "industrial innovation platforms" that connect companies' exports with technology exchange.

On October 14, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the "Exhibition Industry Development Roadmap 2030" at a meeting of economy-related ministers. The government plans to develop at least five flagship national and regional exhibitions by 2030 and increase the share of large-scale exhibitions that combine industry and culture from the current 5% to 20%.

First, exhibitions for advanced industries in which Korea is competitive, such as electronics, semiconductors and robotics, will be brought together on a single large-scale platform. Starting this year, the government will operate "K-Connect AI," linking five exhibitions - the Korea Electronics Show, Korea Semiconductor Exhibition, Robot World, Asia Machinery & Manufacturing Expo, and Industrial AI Expo - around the shared theme of AI. When KINTEX's Exhibition Center 3, with a total floor area of 170,000 square meters, is completed in November 2028, the goal is to integrate the exhibitions' schedules, venues and brands and develop them into Asia-Pacific's leading industrial AI exhibition.

K-culture will be incorporated into consumer goods exhibitions, including those for food and cosmetics. The strategy is to attract not only overseas buyers but also general visitors by linking exhibitions with culinary experiences, K-pop performances and regional festivals. The government will also establish a whole-of-government support system that coordinates the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's efforts to attract buyers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' and Ministry of Health and Welfare's support for company participation, and local governments' regional festivals.

Summary of the 2030 Roadmap for the Development of the Exhibition Industry. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

In the regions, specialized exhibitions will be developed with a focus on the "5 Mega-Regions and 3 Special Self-Governing Provinces" growth engines. Potential examples include shipbuilding and marine industries in Busan, mobility in Daegu, energy in Gwangju, and cosmetics in Osong. The government plans to assess each exhibition's links to regional growth engines, growth strategy, exhibition infrastructure and scale, and local government's commitment to support, and select four to five exhibitions in 2027.

After evaluating their performance, the government will select outstanding exhibitions and concentrate its support on them starting in 2029. It is also pursuing a plan to provide KRW 500 million to KRW 1 billion per exhibition over two to four years. To this end, the government has set next year's budget for supporting the exhibition industry at KRW 11.7 billion, an increase of KRW 4.7 billion from this year's KRW 7 billion. Of this amount, KRW 3.5 billion has been newly allocated to developing flagship regional exhibitions.

The government will also establish a "Regional Exhibition Alliance" linking regional exhibition venues, companies and small business owners. In regions with exhibition venues above a certain size, it plans to designate "Exhibition Industry Development Zones" and support infrastructure improvements and the easing of regulations on outdoor advertising.

The government will also expand the overseas presence of Korea's exhibition industry. It will support domestic businesses seeking to build and operate exhibition venues overseas, focusing on markets with strong growth potential, including India, the Middle East and Central Asia. KOTRA will contribute expertise in bidding and business analysis, KINTEX and COEX in venue operations, and the Korea International Trade Association in exhibition planning and buyer recruitment, helping domestic businesses secure operating rights for overseas exhibition venues.

The government will also increase the number of overseas editions of branded exhibitions that have established a competitive edge in Korea. It will support the establishment of local offices, overseas market research and joint public-private brand expansion, and link companies participating in exhibitions with buyer matching and export vouchers.

The institutional framework will also be updated. The government will establish an "Exhibition Industry Development Committee" to promote cooperation between the central and local governments, and pursue revisions to the Exhibition Industry Development Act to expand the industry's role beyond trade transactions to that of a platform supporting cross-industry convergence and the dissemination of technology. It will also support the operation of an AI Transformation (AX) task force, the development and rollout of AI systems for exhibition businesses, and training for specialized personnel.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan said, "The exhibition industry is a key high-value-added industry that drives our companies' export growth and industrial innovation and injects vitality into regional economies. The government, local governments and the exhibition industry will work together to help the industry take the next step as a global business platform worthy of the era of $1 trillion in exports."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.