First 'Hydrogen Mobility+ Show' Postponed to July... New Product Launches Canceled One After Another Due to COVID-19

It was reported that a COVID-19 confirmed case attended an event of the Future United Party, leading to the closure of all National Assembly buildings, including the main building, on the 25th for the first time in legislative history. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyewon and Lim Hyesun] Hyundai Motor Company's management plan to publicly showcase its world-class hydrogen fuel cell technology, including the hydrogen electric vehicle 'Nexo,' has been postponed to early July. This comes as the 'Hydrogen Mobility+ Show,' scheduled to be held domestically for the first time next month, was delayed after numerous difficulties due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Major retail conglomerates such as Lotte, CJ, and Shinsegae have postponed department store openings and advised their executives to refrain from on-site visits. As the COVID-19 crisis intensifies, companies face not only production disruptions but also a 'zero-hour' in routine management activities.

According to industry sources on the 25th, the organizing committee of the Hydrogen Mobility+ Show held an emergency meeting and decided to tentatively postpone the event, originally scheduled for three days from March 18 to 20 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, to July 1 to 3.

The Hydrogen Mobility+ Show is the world's first and the largest industrial exhibition in the metropolitan area focused on hydrogen and mobility. The organizing committee has been preparing the event for over a year. About 100 leading domestic companies such as Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Rotem, Kolon Industries, and Bumhan Industry, as well as prominent overseas firms, were expected to participate, showcasing hydrogen-powered products and technologies including hydrogen electric vehicles, hydrogen trams, and hydrogen forklifts. On the 13th, the committee announced that the event would proceed as planned with thorough quarantine and prevention systems to promote the hydrogen industry and minimize economic contraction. However, as the COVID-19 situation in Korea worsened uncontrollably, the committee reversed its stance within about ten days.

Not only the Hydrogen Mobility+ Show but also various events scheduled at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, are being canceled one after another. COEX announced the day before that it had urgently decided to cancel the 'Smart Factory Automation Industry Exhibition,' the largest event involving 500 domestic and international companies, scheduled for March 4 to 6 across the entire venue. Just a week ago, COEX had stated, "Recognizing the significant economic impact of exhibition cancellations due to COVID-19 on our companies' exports and domestic demand activation, we will proceed with the scheduled exhibitions as planned."

Such cancellations or sudden postponements of planned events are rapidly increasing in the industry, causing considerable damage. Especially, plans for industrial products or new car launches, where timing and marketing are crucial, are being canceled one after another. BMW Group Korea has completely canceled the previously postponed unveiling and test drive events for the 1 Series and 2 Series. Supercar brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche have also scaled down or canceled their rare new car launch events.

Hanwha Galleria canceled the press day scheduled for the day before the opening of its Gwanggyo branch on the 28th and postponed the opening date to April 2. The Gwanggyo branch is a store that Hanwha Galleria has specially focused on, opening for the first time in 10 years since the Cheonan branch. The 'Daegu International Textile Fair,' the largest textile business exhibition in Korea, scheduled to be held at EXCO in Daegu from March 4 to 7, was also canceled.

LG Group has decided to cancel the 'LG Tech Conference,' held once a year domestically and overseas, after careful consideration. The LG Tech Conference, first held in 2012, is a recruitment briefing session for science and engineering graduate students, held in the U.S. with hundreds of attendees and including a dinner. This is the first time LG Group has canceled the event. Until last week, LG had denied rumors of cancellation, stating that the briefing would proceed as usual.

The scope of executives' activities has also narrowed, restricting normal management operations. Major retail conglomerates such as Lotte, CJ, and Shinsegae have effectively stopped executives' on-site visits and domestic and international business trips.

Some companies have taken preemptive measures to reduce damage from face-to-face contact. Coway has temporarily suspended environmental appliance and home care visit management services, including water purifiers, in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions starting today. For after-service requests, they will provide services with thorough hygiene measures such as gloves and masks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.