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A Massive AI Wave Hits Busan: K-ICT WEEK in BUSAN 2026

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will hold K-ICT WEEK in BUSAN, a comprehensive information and communications technology (ICT) event, for three days from September 9 to 11 at Hall 3 of BEXCO Exhibition Center 1.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Busan Metropolitan City, and the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, the event will showcase an artificial intelligence transformation (AX) ecosystem centered on three core values—business growth, talent retention, and tangible benefits for citizens—under the slogan “AX Wave in BUSAN, Busan as a Hub for AX Innovation.”

In particular, this year’s event will also feature the Busan AI Festival, a large-scale public experience event connecting the exhibition hall with the outdoor plaza. The festival will offer a wide range of content enabling citizens to experience AI technologies firsthand and enjoy AI in everyday life in an accessible and engaging way.

Companies ranging from global enterprises to promising local businesses will participate in the event to showcase the latest artificial intelligence transformation technologies, while professional conferences and seminars featuring experts from Korea and abroad will also be held.

Major companies from Busan and the Seoul metropolitan area will take part, including Korean cloud specialists Douzone Bizon, Megazone, and Cloocus; AI robotics company JM Robotics; and Total Soft Bank, an IT company specializing in the maritime and logistics sectors.

Global technology companies will also participate, including Germany-based DeepL, a global AI translation company, and FPT Korea, affiliated with one of Vietnam’s leading IT companies, presenting state-of-the-art technologies and the latest global industry trends.

Over the three-day event, specialized seminars will address key industry issues and future strategies. These include the Cloud Conference, featuring experts from Amazon Web Services, Kakao Enterprise, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee, as well as the Global AgeTech Forum and the Busan Data Center Tech Summit.

Business consultation programs will also be further strengthened to help local companies expand their domestic and international sales channels and enter overseas markets.

Last year’s event generated KRW 93.7 billion in buyer consultations and KRW 37.9 billion in prospective contracts. Building on these results, this year’s event will expand customized business matching between domestic and international buyers and local companies.

Around 40 global buyers from 15 countries, including Japan and Singapore, as well as major Korean corporations and key public institutions, will participate in customized one-on-one meetings designed to support exports and entry into the public-sector market.

In particular, the event will be held concurrently with the World Smart City Expo, with a pre-scheduled appointment system and a dedicated business consultation area. These measures are intended to help business consultations lead to tangible contracts and investments.

In cooperation with the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, Busan Metropolitan City will also work to build an AI ecosystem in which young people and citizens can participate together while connecting local talent with businesses.

Beyond simply showcasing technology, the event will present a virtuous ecosystem in which talent grows in Busan, businesses thrive, and citizens share in the benefits.

In cooperation with the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, an AI Education Pavilion will be operated with the participation of 51 elementary, middle, high, and special schools in Busan. It will provide young people with opportunities to encounter the AI and ICT industries beyond the classroom while also laying the groundwork for connecting local ICT companies with prospective talent for recruitment.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “This event will give young people dreams for the future, provide businesses with a springboard for global expansion, and allow citizens to experience the real benefits of AI innovation.”

He added, “We will do our utmost to build Busan into a leading AI city where people can learn world-class technologies, find jobs at promising companies, and build stable lives without having to move to the Seoul metropolitan area.”