Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will recruit participating companies for “2026 K-ICT WEEK in BUSAN,” the region’s largest comprehensive information and communications technology (ICT) event leading the era of Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX), from April 13 to July 31.
“K-ICT WEEK in BUSAN,” co-hosted with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, is an exhibition showcasing future-leading technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and quantum information technology. It is a comprehensive ICT exhibition encompassing three core values: corporate growth, talent retention, and citizen engagement.
In particular, building on last year’s business achievements, the event is expected to further expand opportunities for corporate marketing and market development this year.
Last year, the event recorded KRW 93.7 billion in buyer consultation results and KRW 37.9 billion in contracts, achieving a 97 percent increase in contract value compared to the previous year. This established the exhibition as a platform capable of generating tangible business outcomes.
This year’s event will be held for three days from September 9 to 11 at BEXCO under the theme “AX Wave in BUSAN, Busan as a Hub of AX Innovation,” and will be jointly organized with the World Smart City Expo (WSCE) to strengthen business synergy through interlinked events.
Busan Metropolitan City will implement differentiated business strategies to support companies in achieving practical market expansion and growth.
It plans to expand the “Public Meet-Up” program, which supports collaboration between public institutions and companies, thereby facilitating private companies’ entry into the public AI transformation (AX) market.
In addition, the City will reflect corporate demand through preliminary meetings and enhance business outcomes by supporting pre-matching and follow-up management with approximately 80 domestic and international buyers.
Furthermore, the “Busan AI Festival” will be held in conjunction with the event, allowing citizens to easily experience artificial intelligence (AI), thereby improving public understanding and expanding opportunities for hands-on engagement.
Kim Dong-hyun, Director General of the Future Technology Strategy Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “This event will serve as a significant turning point, injecting momentum for AI transformation (AX) across Busan’s industries and reshaping the fundamentals of the regional economy,” adding, “We will spare no effort in supporting companies with outstanding technologies so that they can discover new markets in Busan and grow into global enterprises.”
