From September 2 to 4, 2026, the 12th K-Safety Expo officially opened at BEXCO in Busan, South Korea. Co-hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Busan Metropolitan City, this year's expo is themed "Convergence of Advanced Technologies for a Secure Future." It has brought together 340 domestic and international companies and institutions across 920 standard booths. Against the backdrop of increasingly complex climate-related disasters worldwide, the expo serves not only as a showcase for cutting-edge safety technologies but also as a vital business platform for South Korea's safety industry to expand into overseas markets and deepen international cooperation.
A core highlight of the event, the Advanced Technology Pavilion attracted 131 companies occupying 256 booths, focusing comprehensively on the innovative applications of AI, robotics, and drones in the safety sector. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), under the Ministry of Science and ICT, presented an AI-based real-time urban flood prediction platform, demonstrating immense potential in tackling urban waterlogging caused by extreme weather. Additionally, KIRO showcased intelligent robots for industrial and fire safety inspections, while Liberaware unveiled an ultra-compact indoor inspection drone. These cutting-edge technologies underscore the emerging wave of demand for physical AI and automated equipment in disaster response.
Meanwhile, the Global Pavilion also drew significant attention, hosting 22 overseas exhibitors from nine countries, including Japan, China, and Germany, across 28 booths. This international lineup not only enriched the technological dimensions of the expo but also reflected South Korea's strategic intent to link its domestic safety technologies with regional disaster management cooperation.
In the General Exhibition Halls, the organizers meticulously planned six thematic zones covering natural disasters, daily life safety, public safety, firefighting and rescue, industrial safety, and transportation and maritime safety. Pavilions from local public sectors, including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, also actively participated to help domestic companies expand their sales channels.
To enhance the interactive experience for both the general public and professional visitors, the expo featured a dedicated Safety Experience Zone. Through simulated trap and electric shock scenarios, hands-on CPR practice, and immersive VR simulations of industrial safety and safe driving, visitors could learn emergency response skills in a highly realistic environment. Furthermore, Hyundai Motor's Mobile Safety Experience Vehicle and the Korea Expressway Corporation's vehicle rollover simulation facility were also on display, further boosting the expo's value in safety education and its social impact.
Beyond technological displays, the expo placed a strong emphasis on business matching as a core objective. The organizers recognize that South Korea is leveraging its largest safety industry showcase to propel companies into overseas markets. Data shows that last year's expo facilitated 798 business meetings and generated contract transactions worth approximately 351.4 billion KRW (about USD 256 million).
To sustain this strong momentum, this year's organizers, in partnership with KOTRA, the Korea Disaster Safety Industry Technology Research Association, and the Korea Corporate Cooperation Committee, have specifically invited 100 overseas buyer companies and 83 domestic buyer companies to provide exhibitors with one-on-one export and procurement consulting services. This targeted business matching is actively working to translate global anxieties over climate disasters into tangible export opportunities for South Korea's safety industry.
From a broader perspective, K-Safety Expo 2026 reflects South Korea's wider push to reposition the safety industry from a purely public service function to an engine for economic growth. During the expo, the Global Disaster Safety Business Forum was convened, bringing together officials from ASEAN and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), government representatives from countries such as Cambodia, as well as experts from the global business and academic communities.
In addition, 42 academic and professional conferences, including the International Disaster Management Cooperation Symposium, were held concurrently with the expo, providing in-depth sharing of policy trends and cutting-edge research findings. Through the deep integration of technology exhibitions, policy dialogues, and business matching, South Korea is actively building a safety industry ecosystem that integrates industry, academia, research, and application. This initiative not only contributes South Korean solutions to addressing global climate challenges but also secures broad international market space for its domestic enterprises.