An Era of Saving Lives with AI... 'International Fire Safety Expo' Opens in Daegu on the 20th

To Be Held for Three Days at EXCO in Daegu, May 20-22
Participation from 448 Firefighting Companies, Marking the Largest Event Ever
Enhanced Global Cooperation Through Export Expansion and MOUs

The "International Fire Safety Expo 2026," where visitors can experience cutting-edge technology in the firefighting industry all in one place, will be held at EXCO in Daegu over three days from May 20 to 22.

Joint Drill Simulating a Forest Fire Situation. Photo by Yonhap News

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the event, which is expected to be the largest ever, with 448 firefighting companies from Korea and abroad operating 1,566 booths. Last year, 1,521 booths from 15 countries were operated, drawing around 72,000 visitors, and achieving 594 export and purchase consultations with results totaling 91.5 billion won.

This year’s expo will focus on three key strategies: strengthening government-led support for the firefighting industry, transitioning the industry through new technologies, and enhancing global collaboration in the sector. Under the main theme of "Technological Advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) That Saves Lives," a variety of programs will be presented.

The exhibition hall will feature eight themed zones: ① Future Innovation Zone, ② AI Robot Zone, ③ Drone Zone, ④ Personal Equipment Zone, ⑤ Firefighting Vehicle Zone, ⑥ ESS Zone, ⑦ Firefighting Facilities Zone, and ⑧ Rescue & Emergency Zone.

In the outdoor exhibition space between the West and East Halls of EXCO, 10 special vehicles—including high-performance (explosion-proof) chemical trucks, unmanned firefighting robots, off-road pump trucks, and large-capacity drainage pumps—will be on display and demonstrated. In the Fire Department’s Future Innovation Zone, key research and development (R&D) achievements will be showcased, along with exhibitions on advanced technologies such as robotics, drones, and big data, as well as experiences with digital twin (DT)-based firefighting training.

The "Fire Summit" will also be held to enhance global cooperation. Chiefs and representatives from firefighting and disaster-related agencies in eight countries—Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan—will participate. The summit will feature in-depth discussions on international cooperation measures to overcome the limitations of individual national responses in the context of industrial development and global disasters driven by climate change.

In particular, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) will be signed with the Philippine Fire Department and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan to lay the foundation for practical intergovernmental cooperation.

Unmanned Firefighting Robot. Yonhap News

During the expo, an export consultation event hosted by KOTRA and a purchase consultation event organized by the Win-Win Growth Committee will be held simultaneously. The export consultation will feature 60 overseas buyers from 16 countries and 240 Korean companies. The purchase consultation will include 60 large domestic corporations and around 100 firefighting industry companies. A pre-matching system will enable tailored one-on-one consultations, and a one-stop network will be provided to facilitate the process from consultation to contract.

Over the course of the expo, a total of 48 side events will be held, including 16 seminars, 7 conferences, 17 workshops, and 8 exhibitions and events. The seminars and conferences will serve as platforms for exchanging ideas on advanced technologies and current policy issues.

Kim Seungryong, Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "This year’s International Fire Safety Expo is significant as it presents the future vision of Korean firefighting, with 'AI-based advanced firefighting technology' and 'international cooperation' as its two main pillars."

He added, "By promoting exchanges and cooperation with overseas firefighting organizations, we will do our utmost to strengthen Korea’s global leadership in firefighting and provide a strong driving force for pioneering overseas markets and boosting exports in the domestic firefighting industry."

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