Police officers to inspect patrol robots firsthand... AI and Robotics Public Safety Industry Expo opens on the 21st

[Financial News] The International Public Safety Industry Expo, showcasing future public safety technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, will be held in Incheon this month. For the first time, a product evaluation event will give police officers in the field the chance to try patrol robots firsthand and assess their performance and potential uses.
The National Police Agency said on the 7th that it will host the 8th Korea Police World Expo 2026 with Incheon Metropolitan City for four days, from the 21st to the 24th, at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.
This year’s event will be held under the theme “A New Era of K-Policing Opened by AI and Robotics.” Technologies and products in policing and security will be on display, including mobility and robotics; personal equipment and counterterrorism; criminal investigation and forensic equipment; traffic equipment and systems; cybercrime prevention and response; video security; and social safety and integrated control.
This year, a “Global Robotics Special Pavilion” dedicated to AI and robotic technologies will be set up. Robots for patrol, security, search and disaster response, as well as public safety drones, are expected to be on display.
In particular, at the equipment evaluation event involving seven companies related to patrol robots, police officers in the field will try the products themselves and assess their performance, ease of use, safety and potential for use in the field. The National Police Agency plans to share the evaluation results with the companies for product improvements and follow-up technology development.
An export consultation event will also be held to help domestic public safety companies expand overseas. On the 22nd, the “KPEX Overseas Police Export Consultation” will connect overseas police agencies with participating domestic companies, alongside an export consultation event with overseas buyers hosted by KOTRA.
At last year’s International Public Safety Industry Expo, export contracts worth $6.33 million were signed during the event. The National Police Agency is aiming to secure at least $6.9 million in export contracts this year.
A total of 40 programs will be held, including purchasing consultations between procurement officials at public institutions and participating companies, as well as academic conferences and seminars on future public safety technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. On the final day, the 24th, members of the public will be able to try police equipment, including patrol cars, drones and screen-based shooting, and experience the circuit-based physical fitness test used in police recruitment.
Park Hyun-soo, director general of the National Police Agency’s Future Public Safety Policy Bureau, said, “We will closely connect experience from the field with companies’ innovative technologies to identify public safety technologies that protect the public, and support outstanding K-Policing products in entering global markets.”
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter