Advanced Defense Industry Expo and Advanced Robot Connect held jointly, showcasing present and future of defense technology and robotics
South Korea's defense and robotics industries are converging in Daejeon for a showcase of cutting-edge technology and future capabilities.
Daejeon city, together with the Army Training and Doctrine Command and the Korea Defense MICE Research Institute, opened the "2026 Korea Defense Industry Development Exhibition (InLEX KOREA 2026)" Tuesday at Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 of the Daejeon Convention Center. The event runs through Thursday.
The exhibition merges the former Advanced Defense Industry Expo with the Daejeon Advanced Robot Connect — an upgraded version of last year's Robot Convergence Festival — into a single event. Organizers expect around 20,000 participants from industry, academia, research institutions, government and the military, making it the largest defense-robotics convergence event held to date.
The opening ceremony drew more than 300 attendees, including Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo, the Army Chief of Staff, the commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, the commander of the Army Logistics Command, senior Ministry of National Defense officials, heads of defense-related universities and government-funded research institutes, and executives from defense companies. Guests toured the exhibition halls after the ceremony.
Keynote addresses at Exhibition Hall 1 drew considerable attention. Park Won-ho, director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center under the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and Jason Brown, head of global operations at physical AI company Applied Intuition, both spoke on the theme of advanced defense technologies poised to become game-changers on the future battlefield.
The event is organized around three main areas: an Advanced Defense Exhibition Zone, the Daejeon Defense Industry Forum and the Daejeon Advanced Robot Connect — together presenting the current state and future direction of defense technology and the advanced robotics industry.
The Advanced Defense Exhibition Zone in Exhibition Hall 2 features leading domestic defense companies including Hanwha Aerospace, LIG D&A, Hyundai Rotem and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), presenting advanced technologies in AI, defense maintenance, repair and overhaul, and future mobility. Regional innovators such as Doositec and Cyberi Solutions are also participating, highlighting the competitiveness of Daejeon's defense industry.
The Daejeon Defense Industry Forum, held in seminar rooms across Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, will run more than 30 specialized academic sessions over three consecutive days. Topics include the future direction of ground combat capabilities, AI transformation strategies for national defense, and manned-unmanned teaming systems.
The Daejeon Advanced Robot Connect is running concurrently in Exhibition Hall 2. KAIST is organizing a Robot Alliance technology transfer consultation session and a robot startup competition, while the broader program includes demonstrations of quadruped robots and logistics and guidance robots, as well as hands-on programs open to the public.
Daejeon city plans to use the event to help local small and mid-sized defense venture companies expand their market reach and enter overseas markets. The city will also host a military utility roundtable, a business export consultation session and an investment attraction briefing, all aimed at generating tangible outcomes.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
