Aerospace and defense industry expo to be held alongside airshow for first time

Air force chiefs from 10-plus countries, 120 defense firms to attend

Shuttle buses to run to KASA, MRO complex during event

South Gyeongsang Province Industry Bureau Director Lee Mi-hwa presides over a meeting reviewing preparations for the 2026 Sacheon Airshow, held Wednesday at the provincial government conference room.
South Gyeongsang Province Industry Bureau Director Lee Mi-hwa presides over a meeting reviewing preparations for the 2026 Sacheon Airshow, held Wednesday at the provincial government conference room.

The Sacheon Airshow, long known mainly for its aerobatic displays and public viewing, will transform into a global defense export platform, backed by a total budget of 4.5 billion won ($3.36 million).

South Gyeongsang Province said Thursday that it held the "2026 Sacheon Airshow Preparation Status Report Meeting" on Wednesday at the provincial government conference room, presided over by Industry Bureau Director Lee Mi-hwa, to review preparations with the city of Sacheon, the Air Force and Korea Aerospace Industries.

The province will fund the four-day event, running from Oct. 22 to Oct. 25 at Sacheon Airfield, with 3.5 billion won from the city of Sacheon and 1 billion won from the provincial government, for a total of 4.5 billion won. The biggest change this year is the shift toward business functions: the province will hold the Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition, or GADEX, alongside the airshow for the first time.

The exhibition will bring together some 120 domestic and international companies and institutions, including major defense contractors such as Korea Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai Wia and LIG D&A. South Gyeongsang Province will also set up a promotional pavilion for its aerospace industry, alongside a joint pavilion run by the Korea AeroSpace Administration, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

The event will particularly focus on defense sales in connection with the World Air Chiefs Conference. The province said it is currently coordinating a final attendee list after receiving confirmations from air force leadership in more than 10 countries. It plans to arrange customized government-to-business meetings connecting key foreign military decision-makers with domestic defense companies to drive weapons system export deals. The province will also host one-on-one export consultations with about 20 global buyers, invited jointly with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The province is also addressing the chronic traffic congestion around the venue during the event. Shuttle buses will run frequently between the venue and major parking hubs, including the Sacheon Intercity Bus Terminal, the aviation MRO complex, the Korea AeroSpace Administration's temporary headquarters and Sacheon City Hall.

"This year's Sacheon Airshow will go beyond a simple viewing festival to become a business event where domestic and international companies and world air force delegations can engage with one another," said Lee, the province's industry bureau director. "We will prepare thoroughly in the time remaining so that South Gyeongsang firmly establishes itself as a global aerospace industry hub."


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