Twenty companies will join exhibitions and international business meetings at COEX THE PLATZ on October 13–14
South Korea’s regional AI companies will meet international buyers, investors and prospective customers at COEX THE PLATZ in Seoul on October 13–14. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) will host the inaugural Regional AX Bridge @ Korea 2026, bringing together 20 companies headquartered outside the capital region. Event information
The event combines company exhibitions, one-to-one business meetings and a conference on AI transformation, or AX. Its format gives participating businesses a setting to discuss commercialization and international partnerships alongside technology demonstrations. The briefing materials put expected attendance at approximately 500. The event’s English slogan is “Connecting Nodes, Creating Future.”
Connecting regional businesses with overseas demand
The 20 exhibitors were selected in July and subsequently received preliminary assessments, commercialization consulting and market testing. Seven are based in Daegu and North Gyeongsang, four in Gwangju and South Jeolla, four in Gangwon, three in the Chungcheong–Sejong area, and one each in Busan and North Jeolla.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. on October 13 at the main stage in THE PLATZ. Welcome remarks and an introduction to regional AX initiatives will be followed by a 20-minute signing ceremony for contracts and memorandums of understanding between regional and overseas companies, beginning at 11:30 a.m. A VIP exhibition tour and luncheon will follow. A networking reception is scheduled for 5 p.m.
From global competition to industry implementation
The conference comprises four tracks and 12 sessions. The October 13 tracks examine global AX competition and the current state of regional AX in South Korea. On October 14, the focus moves to accelerating AX in consumer-facing industries and the transition to vertical AI. The program links broader competitive questions with the practical requirements of deploying AI across industries.
Simon See, global head of the NVIDIA AI Technology Center, is scheduled to deliver a special speech on the morning of October 14, titled “The New Frontier: From the Next Word to the Next World.” The global sessions also feature Chen Chao, head of the Sino-Korea Torch Innovation Center; Noriyuki Takahashi, senior vice president at Insight Technology; and Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at Omdia.
Speakers assigned to the domestic tracks include Min-seok Shim, president and CEO of POSCO DX; Dae-gyu Yoon, an executive at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Hye-jun Park, a project manager at SK Energy; Jong-hoon Ahn, an executive vice president at Amorepacific; Won-jin Heo, CTO of MyRealTrip; Joon-hee Jeon, CTO of Musinsa; Ji-woon Seok, an attorney at Yulchon; and Myung-hee Son, deputy director of the Digital Innovation Center at Samsung Medical Center.
Their industries span manufacturing, energy, consumer products, travel, fashion, legal services and healthcare.
A commercial test for regional AI
The central question is how effectively regional AI capabilities can translate into specific discussions with overseas customers and partners. Exhibitions, business meetings and planned signing ceremonies form successive opportunities to make those connections. Whether the discussions lead to transactions and sustained cooperation after the event will be a useful measure of its commercial impact.
Event at a glance
일정 / Dates | 2026.10.13–14 |
장소 / Venue | COEX THE PLATZ, 2F, Seoul |
참가 / Exhibitors | 지역 AI 기업 20개사 / 20 regional AI companies |
컨퍼런스 / Conference | 4 tracks · 12 sessions |
지역 분포 / Regional distribution | Daegu–North Gyeongsang 7; Gwangju–South Jeolla 4; Gangwon 4; Chungcheong–Sejong 3; Busan 1; North Jeolla 1 |
Sources and program status
Based on the supplied Korean event notice and event poster. The notice cites NIPA’s August 10, 2026 planning document and participant briefing materials. Speakers, sessions and schedules are subject to change. The website could not be accessed to cross-check the latest program. English renderings of Korean speaker names should be confirmed against official profiles before publication.