500 Overseas Buyers Participate in 'Daegu International Optical Fair'... Famous Brands Showcase New Products

3000 Opticians Visit

‘Diops Innovation Award’ Established

The 22nd Daegu International Optical Fair (DIOPS) 2024 will be held for three days from April 3 to 5 at Daegu EXCO.

DIOPS is the only international optical fair in Korea, hosted by Daegu City and organized by the Korea Optical Industry Promotion Agency. In 2023, more than 8,000 domestic and international visitors attended DIOPS.

EXCO, the venue for the Daegu International Optics Fair.

This year, all 350 exhibition booths were sold out, and the number of pre-registered domestic and international buyers has more than tripled compared to the previous year, increasing the reputation of DIOPS and the interest of participants. Seventeen overseas companies with 24 booths and 500 overseas buyers are expected to participate.

This year’s DIOPS will see the large participation of house brand companies such as H2C Design (Noun), World Trend (Frank Custom, Ironic Iconic), Phantom Optical (Plume), Hub Eyewear (Plasta), JCS International (CLROTTE), and Jungs Optical (VYCOZ). House brand companies refer to brands focused on the optical field with high quality and expertise.

Famous brand companies such as Urban Eyewear (NINE ACCORD), Two Face Optical (Carven), March Eyewear (MARCH), Third Party On (TAG eyewear), JSI Eyewear (M.TATE), and Eyes On (FREEHOLD) will also showcase their new brand products directly.

Representing Daegu, cleaner companies such as CMA Global and Geonyeong Cleaner, as well as specialized companies in optical instruments and vision testing devices like Hubitz, Shinil Optical, and Donga Medical, and contact lens companies such as Neovision and Doonun Eye are expected to exhibit a variety of optical products. Overseas companies such as Japan’s Hug Ozawa, China’s Love Door, and Yani will also participate in large numbers to showcase global products.

At this DIOPS, on-site continuing education for opticians will be held simultaneously by four regional branches of the Korean Opticians Association (Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam), with more than 3,000 opticians expected to visit Daegu. Additionally, to boost export performance, an online export consultation meeting with overseas buyers will be held during the event.

Various side events and special exhibitions will be prepared to provide visitors with new experiences and attractions, including a free eye examination event operated by the Korean Opticians Association, a special smart glasses pavilion where XR and VR can be experienced, a K-Eyewear Metaverse promotional pavilion, and a small business special pavilion.

Interest is already high in the newly established ‘DIOPS Innovation Award,’ which selects products leading technological and design innovation this year. Companies selected for the Innovation Award will receive various benefits such as preferential support projects, operation of a special pavilion at DIOPS 2025, and support for domestic and international promotional activities.

The scene from last year's Daegu International Optics Fair.

Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, said, “I hope this year’s DIOPS event will be an opportunity to share new trends in the optical industry and spread innovative technologies,” adding, “We will spare no policy support to ensure that Daegu’s optical industry maintains its global competitiveness.”