Gangwon Province Opens 'Gangwon Medical Device Exhibition'... "Plans to Establish Additional Advanced Medical Complexes"

Largest-Ever Participation: 139 Companies and Organizations, Over 160 Overseas Buyers
Gangwon Medical Device Industry Ranks Second Nationwide in Exports
Aiming to Establish a Global Triangular Belt Connecting Japan and the United States

On September 18, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced that the 21st Gangwon Medical Device Exhibition (hereinafter referred to as GMES) has opened at the Wonju Medical Device Industry Promotion Institute, with the largest-ever participation from companies and overseas buyers.

Poster of the 21st Gangwon Medical Device Exhibition. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province

GMES, which began in 2006 under the name "Gangwon Medical Plaza," has established itself as Gangwon's leading overseas export business platform, breaking export contract records every year. Last year, it achieved export contracts worth 24.69 million US dollars, setting an all-time high.

The opening ceremony was attended by key figures, including Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and Han Jong-hyun, President of the Wonju Medical Device Industry Promotion Institute. This year’s exhibition brings together 139 companies and organizations, more than 160 overseas buyers, and over 1,000 visitors.

Notably, this year’s event has expanded beyond its traditional business focus to become an exhibition in which local residents also participate. A variety of exhibitions and side events are being held, allowing visitors to directly experience the functionality, performance, and convenience of products and to better understand their technological capabilities.

Governor Kim Jin-tae emphasized, "Gangwon Province’s biohealth industry aspires to become part of a global triangular belt connecting Kobe in Japan and Boston in the United States," adding, "Recently, the Wonju medical device industry has become a leading sector, achieving second place in national exports, surpassing Seoul, which has a population six times larger."

He continued, "With annual growth exceeding 20 percent, we expect to achieve results worth 40 billion KRW this year. Building on this momentum, we will work together with all of you to establish additional advanced medical complexes in the future."

Governor Kim Jin-tae also presented commendation plaques to medical device companies that have consistently participated in GMES and contributed to increased sales and revitalization of the local economy: Newpong Co., Ltd. (2015/ultrasonic surgical devices), Mesh Co., Ltd. (2006/thermal diagnostic devices), and Ncare Co., Ltd. (2006/thermal conduction therapy devices), expressing gratitude for the hard work and achievements of the business leaders.

The medical device industry in Gangwon Province has grown organically over the past 30 years, from an industrial wasteland to a thriving sector through the cooperation of the province, city, universities, companies, and hospitals. From just five companies in its early days, there are now 188 companies located in the medical device cluster.

According to recently released 2024 statistics on medical device production and trade, Gangwon Province’s medical device industry ranked second in national exports, surpassing Seoul (with 960 companies), where most of the country’s major medical device firms are concentrated.

Meanwhile, the province plans to actively pursue various support measures and projects, including the establishment of additional advanced medical complexes, to further advance medical devices and digital healthcare through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence.

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