coex

Coex, Korea’s leading Convention and Exhibition Center, Prepares to Celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2026

Forty Years as a Growing Partner for Korean Industries
In 2026, Coex, Korea’s premier Convention and Exhibition Center (CEO and President Sang Hyeon Jo) will mark its 40th anniversary. Over the past four decades since its establishment in 1986, Coex has hosted approximately 6,500 conventions and exhibitions. It has played a pivotal role in expanding exports for Korean industries and stimulating international exchanges through the exhibition industry, thereby contributing to South Korea’s economic growth.
Coex started as a venue for general trade shows such as the SEOUL TRADE FAIR, but Coex has since expanded its industrial ecosystem by hosting national-level strategic industry exhibitions such as the Korea Electronics Show (KES), SEMICON Korea, Korea Factory Automation Show (KOFA) (now Smart Factory + Automation World, AW), Korea International Food Technology Exhibition (now Food Week Korea), and SIPREMIUM (now Sourcing in Market) — contributing to the earning of foreign currency, and establishing an industrial network by hosting international conferences.
Another milestone for Coex is incorporating the daily lives of citizens into the MICE platform by launching cultural exhibitions like the Seoul International Art Festival (now KIAF SEOUL, since 1996), the Seoul Book Fair (now Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) since 1994), and the Seoul Living Design Fair (since 1995).

Hosting Exhibitions that Drive Industrial Growth in Smart Tech, Energy, and the Food & Culture Sectors
Coex, Korea’s premier exhibition and convention center, plans and operates more than 20 domestic exhibitions and over 10 overseas exhibitions annually as of 2026, establishing itself as the largest exhibition organizer in the country. Coex is creating a MICE platform that integrates technology and culture, focusing on four key industrial trends: smart tech, energy, mobility, and food & culture.
Smart Factory & Automation World (AW) and the World IT Show (WIS), hosted at Coex, showcase core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI, big data, and robotics.
Coex drives industrial development as a central hub for digital transformation, providing a venue for sharing the latest trends in smart manufacturing and industrial automation.
Energy shows, such as InterBattery, Korea Smart Grid Expo, and ELEX Korea, cover the entire value chain of energy, including batteries, new and renewable energy, and the power grid. International firms gather to present a new energy ecosystem, focusing on eco-friendly technologies.
EV Trend Korea, Unmanned Systems World Congress, and Autonomous Driving Mobility Expo provide a snapshot of the trends of future mobility, including electric vehicles, drones, and autonomous driving — presenting a vision for sustainable mobility technology through convergence with the energy industry.
Food Week Korea and the Agri & Food Tech Startup Rising Expo (AFPRO) give a quick overview of the convergence of the food industry and technology. Furthermore, the Korea International Art Fair (KIAF SEOUL) and the Seoul Living Design Fair offer exhibition experiences that capture urban aesthetics, leading cultural and design trends.

An Urban Complex Cultural Space where Industry and Culture Blend
With the opening of COEX Mall in 2000, Coex transformed itself from a convention center into a multi-purpose cultural space encompassing culture, art, shopping, and entertainment. Hosting urban civic festivals like the C Festival and the Winter Festival, Coex presented a new paradigm for exhibition culture, incorporating culture into the exhibition space.
Coex has also successfully hosted large-scale government-organized international conferences such as ASEM Seoul 2000, the G20 Seoul Summit, and the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit — building up its global brand of ‘Seoul = Coex’ in the MICE sector.

Aiming for the Global MICE Market
Coex has been leading the expansion of the Korean MICE industry onto the global stage. In 2009, Coex became the first Korean company to host an exhibition in Vietnam. In 2022, it established its overseas subsidiary, “COEX VINA,” and now hosts approximately 10 overseas exhibitions annually, in Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively. Leveraging its expertise in operating overseas exhibitions and managing convention centers, Coex has operated the WTC Binh Duong New City Expo in Vietnam between 2021 and 2024, where it oversaw venue leasing, overall operations, and marketing for three years.
In addition, based on its proven expertise in the stable operation of convention venues, Coex has successfully managed aT Center, Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center (GSCO), and Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO) in Korea. Building on this experience, Coex was entrusted in 2024 with the operation of Coex Magok Convention Center—the first dedicated exhibition and convention facility in the western part of Seoul—contributing to balanced industrial development through the establishment of a regional MICE cluster.

40th Anniversary in 2026! A New Beginning for another 40 Years with Next Coex
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, Coex is pursuing a project to host commemorative exhibitions and publishing digital archives that record its history and share its vision for the future.
Additionally, in conjunction with the 2027 Yeongdong-daero Underground Space Complex Development Project, Coex plans to carry out a major renovation of the convention center, including the crown-shaped main entrance, exhibition hall, and third-floor conference rooms. By around 2029, Coex is scheduled to be transformed into a global K-MICE destination equipped with eco-friendly infrastructure.
“Coex has walked alongside the growth of Korean industry for the past 40 years,” remarked SANG HYEON JO, CEO and president of Coex “The next 40 years will be a journey of challenge and innovation toward the global market,” adding, “Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Coex will be reborn as ‘Next Coex’ and present a new standard for creative and sustainable ‘Premium MICE Platforms’.”

2026 coex exhibition schedule

 
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