Vice Minister Ryu Jemyung Announces Three-Year Intensive Investment in Physical AI... World IT Show Opens (Comprehensive)

More Than 460 Companies and Organizations from 17 Countries Participate

Minhui Choi: "Legislation Focused on Fostering Growth"

The "2026 World IT Show" was held on the 22nd at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Key guests attending the event, including Je Myung Ryu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Minhee Choi, Chair of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee, are taking a commemorative photo in front of the KT booth. Photo by Dongju Yoon.

Je Myung Ryu, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated on April 22, "Based on the recently announced 'Physical AI Core Competitiveness Strategy,' we plan to systematically secure physical AI technologies that can supplement and replace human roles through focused investment over the next three years."

At the opening ceremony of the "2026 World IT Show," held at COEX in Seoul under the theme "From Thought to Action: AI Moves Reality," Vice Minister Ryu said, "We will strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic AI and ICT industries and support AI technologies in driving real change across manufacturing and service sectors." This year’s World IT Show, which runs for three days from April 22 to 24, has attracted over 460 companies and organizations from 17 countries.

Vice Minister Ryu emphasized, "Countries around the world are fiercely competing and making massive investments to secure AI competitiveness. The AI budget of approximately 10 trillion won being allocated this year represents the largest support ever, covering technology, infrastructure, talent, and the entire industry. This will serve as a foundation to further strengthen Korea's AI competitiveness."

Minhee Choi, Chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, said in her welcoming remarks, "Last year, the National Assembly passed the AI Basic Law, making Korea the second country in the world to do so, and even Europe, which was focused on regulation, is now making comprehensive changes to its approach." She continued, "The National Assembly is working to ease regulations and prepare legislation focused on promotion."

Chair Choi added, "Only when the era comes where physical AI enables ill parents to be cared for will the public truly feel the benefits. We will accelerate the establishment of legal frameworks that allow people to use new physical AI products without risk during the initial stages."

The 18th annual World IT Show is an exhibition that promotes the technology and services of information and communication technology companies and shares the latest technology trends, with participation from over 460 companies and organizations from 17 countries. Photo by Dongju Yoon.

On this day, companies promoting their physical AI and advanced technologies set up booths and welcomed visitors to the exhibition hall. Leading domestic IT and telecommunications companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus participated, along with key players in robotics, AI semiconductors, and platforms, showcasing their latest technologies.

At the "Global ICT Outlook Conference," a side event, the theme "AI Transformation (AX): Technology that Understands People" was explored, highlighting the structural changes AI is bringing to industries and everyday life.

In the keynote address, Sungkwon Jung, Executive Vice President of LG Uplus, introduced the telecommunications company's AI agent strategy focused on voice-based AI. Jung said, "AI is evolving beyond simple responses to understand user context and autonomously perform tasks."

Next, Taehee Lee, Vice President of Samsung SDS, delivered a presentation titled "AX that Understands Me and Transforms Daily Life and Work," stressing, "Companies must redesign work processes and roles with an AI-centered approach. It is important to offer mentoring and development paths for juniors, strengthen the reliability of AI results, and establish data governance."

This year, four new special exhibition zones were created—"Award Tech Pavilion," "Global Pavilion," "Enter Tech Pavilion," and "K-AI Semiconductor Ecosystem Pavilion"—to enhance exhibition content. Additionally, the "Global ICT Buyer Export Consultation Event" was held to provide promising AI and ICT companies and startups with opportunities for export consultations and investment attraction with buyers. Fifty overseas buyers from 14 countries, including the UK, China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), participated and sought tangible business opportunities through tailored consultations with about 190 domestic companies.

Coinciding with the opening of the World IT Show, the "Outstanding Companies Awards Ceremony" was held, where the Korea Impact Tech Grand Prize was awarded to recognize domestic innovative AI and ICT technologies. The Presidential Award went to Gaudio Lab, which developed a platform that automates music separation and replacement, dubbing, and subtitles using AI technology in the process of exporting K-content overseas. The Prime Minister's Award was given to Law & Company, which developed a legal-specialized AI service using a generative AI-based chatbot. Six companies, including Samsung Electronics—which developed a service that builds and operates communication networks purely with software, from the core network and radio access network (RAN) to cell site routers (CSR), without dedicated hardware—received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award.

The World IT Show Innovation Award, given to promising AI and ICT companies, was awarded to 10 companies, including BNSR, which developed an integrated system for semiconductor process and process equipment diagnostics, all of whom received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award.

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