Technology and climate expos in Busan

In September 2026, Busan, South Korea, hosted major international exhibitions focused on technological innovation and environmental sustainability.

The World Smart City Expo 2026 highlighted advancements in urban management and robotics. Gwangmyeong City presented a vision for a carbon-neutral smart city through a 16 billion won budget, focusing on renewable energy, eco-friendly mobility, and AIoT-based flood control. Additionally, the robotics sector showcased developments such as the Barisbrew robot barista and the DEUX semi-humanoid robot, which utilizes teleoperation technology to perform daily tasks.

Following this, the Climate Industry International Expo opened, themed ‘Climate Tech Creating Great Change: A Leap Toward a Decarbonized World.’ Co-hosted by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment with support from the IEA, IRENA, and the World Bank, the event featured over 500 companies. Discussions emphasized international cooperation in energy security and renewable energy. Participants, including SK Innovation, presented solutions to meet the power demands of the AI era, such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Small Modular Reactors (SMR).