K-Defense Export Strategy in Full Swing... 'DX KOREA 2026' Aims to Become an International Defense Hub

[Financial News] The international defense industry exhibition DX KOREA 2026, aimed at enhancing the global status of K-defense, is set to be held next September with strengthened global cooperation and government policy support. As applications from major domestic and international defense companies are rapidly increasing, this exhibition is expected to be a venue for substantial exchanges to expand exports and enhance the technological competitiveness of the Korean defense industry.

At the recently held '1st Defense Industry Day' forum, the government announced its plan to actively foster the defense industry as a future growth engine. Accordingly, various events are being actively promoted to strengthen the competitiveness of K-defense products and explore overseas markets, with the international defense industry exhibition DX KOREA 2026 at the center.

The official organizers, MindsGround Co., Ltd. and the DX KOREA 2026 Organizing Committee, announced on the 14th that applications from global major companies, including the U.S. UAV leading company AeroVironment (AV) and Italy's representative defense company Leonardo, are rapidly increasing. As a result, the international status of the exhibition is also rising.

In particular, through joint hosting with the British defense exhibition organizing body, the participation of global companies is being promoted, emphasizing the direction of the exhibition as an 'international stage where defense companies are the protagonists.' The exhibition will be held under the theme "Peace and Future, the Time of Promise" from September 16 to 19 next year at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

This exhibition is the only one in Korea that can display actual heavy equipment such as tanks, and the opening of GTX-A has improved transportation accessibility. These infrastructure conditions are positively impacting the attraction of participating companies.

Recently, Korea has signed a second contract for the export of K2 tanks with Poland (worth about 8.8 trillion won), signaling a record-breaking defense export performance. This trend is highlighting the global competitiveness of K-defense and leading to expectations for the exhibition.

DX KOREA has established itself as an international brand based on its 10 years of hosting experience and global network, and next year's exhibition is emphasized as an industrial exhibition that practically supports the government's K-defense export policy. Among defense experts, the need for DX KOREA 2026 to function as a strategic platform is being discussed.

Ryu Jun-hyung, Deputy CEO of MindsGround and General Director of DX KOREA 2026, stated, "DX KOREA aims to be the world's 4th largest defense exhibition," adding, "This is linked with the government policy of entering the top 4 defense powers, and will provide a platform for marketing, promotion, and technological cooperation for participating companies."

He added, "Based on a system of private-led and government-supported, the exhibition is evaluated as a public sector industrial exhibition effectively linked with international conferences and military mobility and firepower demonstrations."

This exhibition is composed of customized programs to maximize the achievements of participating companies. In addition to introducing the technology and products of defense companies, a practical cooperation venue for policy sharing and information exchange with demand groups is prepared. Furthermore, 22 major seminars, 15 field-specific symposiums, global buyer invitation consultations, and partnering programs will be held concurrently.

In particular, keynote speeches by companies and senior military officials who have secured strategic superiority in multi-domain battlefield environments are scheduled, and companies wishing to participate in the exhibition can receive up to a 20% discount on participation fees and booth reservation benefits by registering early by September 15 this year.

Currently, not only major domestic defense conglomerates but also companies from the UK, France, the Netherlands, and North America are actively applying to participate.

Meanwhile, MindsGround Co., Ltd., a MICE specialized company with over 600 cases of international conference, exhibition, and event operation experience, was selected as the official organizer of DX KOREA last May. To strengthen exhibitions in the defense industry field, the company elevated its dedicated organization to the 'Defense Business Division' in March for independent operation, thereby enhancing business promotion authority and organizational support to ensure the successful hosting of the exhibition.







amosdy@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Dae-yul