Gangseo District Confirmed as Host of 2026 Korea Business Expo

To Be Held at COEX Magok Next March
Laying the Foundation for Becoming a Global Economic City

Gangseo District in Seoul has been officially selected as the host city for the 27th World Leaders Convention and the 2026 Korea Business Expo (KOREA BUSINESS EXPO), organized by the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations (WORLD-OKTA). The event will be held over four days from March 30 to April 2 next year at COEX Magok.

Event poster. Provided by Gangseo-gu.

The convention will bring together approximately 2,000 participants, including Korean businesspeople from around 70 countries, domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and overseas buyers, creating a large-scale platform for global business exchange. Gangseo District expects that hosting this event will serve as a major turning point for expanding market opportunities for SMEs and revitalizing the local economy.

The World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations is a non-profit organization established in 1981. Currently, it operates 150 chapters in 71 countries, with about 7,000 overseas Korean CEOs and 21,000 next-generation businesspeople as members. This event will provide substantial business opportunities by bringing together overseas Korean businesspeople and domestic SMEs for networking, one-on-one export consultation sessions, economic forums, cultural events, and a variety of other programs.

In particular, Gangseo District, the Seoul Business Agency, and WORLD-OKTA will jointly organize the event to systematically support the overseas expansion and export growth of domestic companies. During the event, 320 domestic SMEs will operate exhibition booths and hold one-on-one matching consultations with over 1,000 overseas Korean businesspeople and buyers. In addition, various exchange programs will be offered, including job fairs, overseas internship networking, exhibitions of outstanding Seoul products, overseas distribution briefings, and cultural tourism tours.

Gangseo District aims to use this event to promote its MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) infrastructure internationally and to enhance its status as a global economic hub city. At the World Korean Business Convention to be held in Incheon this October, the district plans to officially announce the hosting of the '2026 Korea Business Expo Gangseo.'

Jin Gyohoon, Mayor of Gangseo District, stated, "This convention will be an important turning point for Gangseo District to grow into a global economic city," adding, "I am confident it will serve as a bridgehead for domestic companies to enter overseas markets and make a significant contribution to revitalizing the local economy." He further emphasized, "We will focus our administrative efforts to ensure this becomes a successful international event that satisfies both overseas Korean businesspeople and domestic entrepreneurs."