Gangwon Province to Accelerate Global Market Entry in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector

Gangwon Pavilion at 'Japan IT Week Autumn'
Four Local Companies Participate, Targeting Both Exports and Investment
Co-hosting 'Gangwon ICT Tech Bridge: Tokyo IR' with Douzone Bizon

Gangwon Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on October 22 that, in response to the rapidly changing trade environment and to diversify export markets, it has designated the information and communications technology (ICT) industry as its next-generation strategic export sector. The province will actively pursue overseas marketing to support local companies' entry into global markets.

A view of the Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Province.

The province, in cooperation with Douzone Bizon, a leading ICT company in Gangwon, has organized the Gangwon Pavilion at 'Japan IT Week Autumn 2025,' which is being held from October 22 to 24 at Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, Japan. Four ICT companies from Gangwon will participate, showcasing advanced technologies and products.

Japan IT Week is the largest comprehensive IT technology exhibition in East Asia, attracting more than 750 companies and over 60,000 buyers annually, and is recognized as a leading global event in the IT industry.

The exhibition covers a wide range of advanced ICT convergence technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), smart healthcare, information security, cloud, and data centers.

The province explained that this initiative is a strategic choice reflecting both the global growth of the ICT industry and the maturity of the local ICT ecosystem.

Through recent strategic industry development policies, Gangwon has accumulated ICT-based technologies and convergence models such as big data, AI solutions, and smart living. The province views this exhibition as the beginning of a full-scale entry into overseas markets.

In particular, the ICT industry is regarded as a key sector capable of driving mutual growth across the province's main export industries-such as bio, medical devices, and automotive parts-through convergence.

In the first half of this year, Korea's ICT service exports reached 6.37 billion dollars, up 19.3% year-on-year, with an average annual growth rate of 10.1% over the past five years. Notably, Japan is emerging as a high-potential market due to active investment in smart healthcare, digital twin, and AI solutions in response to its aging population.

Alongside the exhibition, the province will host an on-site export consultation meeting with local buyers on October 23, followed by the 'Gangwon ICT Tech Bridge: Tokyo IR' event with Douzone Bizon on October 24. These events aim to achieve tangible results such as export contracts, investment attraction presentations, and global business strategy announcements.

Gangwon Province plans to gradually expand its overseas marketing initiatives, starting with participation in Japan IT Week, to meet the growing demand from local companies for participation in international IT exhibitions.

According to a survey conducted earlier this year among 108 ICT companies in Gangwon regarding their interest in entering global markets, 22 companies expressed a desire to participate in overseas exhibitions. The most preferred countries were Japan (25 companies), the United States (20 companies), and Singapore (9 companies).

Kim Man-ho, Director of Economic Affairs for Gangwon Province, stated, "As the global ICT industry experiences rapid growth, we have created an opportunity for local companies to showcase their technological capabilities in overseas markets. Following bio, medical devices, and automotive parts, we will foster ICT as a strategic export item to diversify exports and revitalize the local economy."

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