KITA opens AI Summit Seoul & Expo 2026 with 118 companies from 7 countries

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said it opened "AI Summit Seoul & Expo" on Wednesday at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, co-organizing the event with COEX and DMK Global. The event runs through Friday.

Known as AISE, the event combines South Korea's largest AI conference, AI Summit Seoul, with an exhibition floor in a confex format — a business event that merges a conference and an exhibition.

This year's edition features 118 companies from seven countries across 307 booths, up from 71 companies and 197 booths last year — a 66.2 percent increase in participating firms. Pre-registered visitors also rose roughly fivefold. Organizers expect more than 25,000 attendees.

The exhibition, held in Hall B at COEX, is organized into four sections: industry-specific AI solutions, AI business solutions, generative AI and content innovation, and an AI experience zone. Global AI companies including Adobe, Genspark and Oracle will showcase AI solutions and case studies applicable to industrial settings.

A business-to-business program has also been set up to facilitate investment and partnership between AI technology providers and corporate buyers. Under the "AI Business Connecting" program, about 80 companies — including AI tech firms exhibiting at the event alongside large and mid-sized corporations and investors — will hold approximately 200 one-on-one business consultations.

An "AI Startup Forum & Pitching" session will give startups a platform to present their technologies and business models and explore potential partnerships with investors and industry stakeholders.

An "AI Workshop" targeting corporate practitioners will offer hands-on training in applying AI to tasks such as overseas marketing and workflow automation. An AI experience zone will also be open to general visitors.

New this year, a humanoid robot demonstration zone will let visitors see physical AI technology from global robotics companies including Agibot and Pudu Robotics.

Running alongside the expo, AI Summit Seoul takes place Wednesday and Thursday at the COEX Grand Ballroom. The conference will feature 69 expert sessions covering AI adoption in manufacturing and finance, AI agents and physical AI.

Representatives from global companies including Google, Microsoft, NASA and Seagate will also participate, sharing the latest AI technology trends and sector-specific adoption strategies.

KITA described the event as the first major private-sector AI business gathering in South Korea since the government issued its "San Francisco AI Declaration" last July. The association said the event is designed to help technology companies find new customers and expand overseas, while giving corporate buyers a chance to identify AI solutions they can deploy on the ground — in line with the government's vision of positioning South Korea as a global AI testbed and production platform.

"For South Korea to emerge as a key player in the global AI supply chain, we need not only strong technology development but also a marketplace where tech companies and industry buyers actually meet, collaborate and build businesses together," said Jeong Hui-cheol, head of KITA's overseas marketing division. "We hope AI Summit Seoul & Expo will establish itself as a business platform that drives the expansion of domestic AI companies and accelerates the AI transformation of Korean industry."