Seoul to Host Event Combining Content and Technology... 'GES·Entertech Seoul 2026' to Be Held

[Financial News] A future content industry festival for citizens and companies alike will be held in Seoul. It aims to promote convergence among content, technology and industry, while creating new business opportunities.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 30th that it will host 'GES·Entertech Seoul 2026' from Sept. 17 to 20 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul area.
The city decided to merge this year's separate events, 'Entertech, Seoul' and 'GES (Game E-sports, Seoul),' reflecting the recent trend in which K-pop, artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), gaming and mobility are converging into new user experiences and business models.
During the event, visitors will see exhibitions and hands-on programs combining K-pop with cutting-edge technologies such as AI and XR, industry-convergence content involving gaming and mobility, esports competitions, citizen participation programs, a content industry forum, K-pop performances and business programs with global buyers and investors.
At the integrated opening ceremony on Sept. 18, CJ ENM Vice President Kim Jeong-han will present a future vision for the K-content industry.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government views K-pop as a flagship K-culture industry that combines music intellectual property (IP), technology, fandom, performances, tourism and business, and it plans to further strengthen support for related industries. It also plans to accelerate efforts to build a popular music industry ecosystem with the opening of Seoul Arena next year. As part of that effort, the event will feature virtual reality (VR) content by SM Entertainment artists and immersive VR content using the IP of Fifty Fifty, which is under ATTRAKT.
In the gaming sector, small and indie game companies in Seoul will join Hyundai Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz Korea, NC AI and Smilegate Future Lab to showcase a range of convergence cases.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also link the event with the 'Asian Contents & Film Market' to help generate tangible industry results such as investment, sales channels and overseas expansion. This year's SPP business consultation session will bring together 870 companies from 30 countries for one-on-one business meetings. K-content companies in gaming, animation, webtoons and film will present their content and IP to the global market.
Investment attraction programs will also be expanded. The city will run a variety of business-matching programs, including investment consultations linked to the Seoul Content Investment Council, 'Buyer's Club,' which introduces promising content companies' IP to global buyers, and 'Buyer Reverse Showcase.'
Cho Hye-jeong, head of Seoul's creative industries planning office, said, "The convergence of content and advanced technology is creating new markets," adding, "Through this event, we will give citizens the chance to experience future content firsthand, and provide companies with opportunities for investment, collaboration and overseas expansion. We will develop Seoul into a global hub for the content industry, where new content, technology and business are constantly being created."

[email protected] Lee Seol-young Reporter