Police are here — but it's a robot: Korea Police World Expo opens in Incheon

The Korea Police World Expo 2026 (KPEX 2026), a specialized trade show for the public safety industry hosted by the Korean National Police Agency, opened Wednesday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.

Running through Saturday, the four-day event features 245 domestic and international companies showcasing AI-integrated security equipment and technologies across more than 880 booths, with a focus on robotics and other advanced technologies.

Technologies on display range from AI-powered video analysis systems and autonomous patrol robots to security drones, forensic equipment and cybersecurity solutions — covering the full spectrum of policing from crime prevention to on-scene response.

The expo also includes programs to help South Korean public safety companies expand overseas. Highlights include an export consultation session with 82 buyers from 31 countries, an AI patrol robot evaluation event, demand-tailored business tours and an investment consultation session for the National Safety Industry Fund. The events are expected to give domestic companies a chance to gauge overseas buyer demand and explore concrete business cooperation opportunities.

At the AI patrol robot evaluation event, active police officers will assess the robots' performance, safety and ease of use firsthand. The Korean National Police Agency said it plans to use the feedback to help companies incorporate real-world policing needs into their technology development and to support the adoption of standout products in police operations.

The expo also provides a forum for international law enforcement cooperation. The agency will hold its first International Cooperation Council General Assembly, aimed at building a joint response to emerging cross-border crimes such as organized fraud. More than 40 academic conferences and seminars will also be held, including a public safety communications network forum, where participants will share the latest technology and policy trends in policing, security and public safety and discuss avenues for collaboration.

Interactive events are also on offer for the general public. Visitors can try police fitness tests, handle police equipment and take part in traffic safety experiences, giving citizens a hands-on look at police work and a greater appreciation for everyday safety.

A Korean National Police Agency official said the expo was organized as "a platform to share the direction of advanced public safety technology development and support the growth and overseas expansion of domestic public safety companies," under the theme of a new era of "K-policing" powered by AI and robotics.

Now in its eighth year, the Korea Police World Expo is co-hosted by the Korean National Police Agency and the Incheon Metropolitan City government, with the Incheon Tourism Organization and KOTRA serving as co-organizers.

Park Hyun-su, director general of the agency's Future Policing Policy Bureau, said the expo is "an important event for identifying the advanced technologies needed on the ground and supporting the growth and overseas expansion of domestic public safety companies." He added that the agency would "continue to work actively to ensure that outstanding public safety technologies are introduced into real-world operations to enhance public safety, and to develop the K-policing industry into a future growth sector."