On the 20th, at EXCO in Daegu, where the International Fire Safety Expo 2026 opened. Visitors crowded in front of a Humanoid Robot by Chinese robotics corporation Unitree (Unitree Robotics). When the humanoid, dressed in firefighter gear, danced to the music, gasps of admiration came from all around. An official at the National Fire Agency said, "The movements of robots are getting smoother by the day," and added, "It seems the day is not far off when humanoids will be at work at disaster scenes."
On one side of the venue, two black Labrador retrievers, active as detection and rescue dogs, came face-to-face with a quadruped walking robot, the so-called "robot dog." The robot dog did a handstand and a somersault as if to show off. Visitors pulled out their phones to film the scene.
◇ From EV fires to wildfires: a slew of firefighting robots from private corporations
The undisputed stars of this year's expo were robots. The attractions at the exhibition hall went beyond simple tricks. Firefighting robots and artificial intelligence (AI)-based equipment, designed to be deployed in places difficult for firefighters to access—such as scenes with explosion risks or toxic gas leaks—were placed throughout the exhibition hall.
The International Fire Safety Expo is Korea's largest firefighting industry exhibition. It has been held every year since the year after the 2003 Daegu subway disaster to foster and develop the domestic firefighting industry. This year, a record 448 firefighting companies participated.
Private corporations unveiled a slew of firefighting robots intended for actual fire scenes. TXR Robotics exhibited five types of firefighting robots at this expo, including an extinguishing robot, an EV fire response robot, and a wildfire prevention robot.
A company official said, "The EV fire response robot is equipped with Autonomous Driving and a thermal imaging camera, allowing operation even when visibility is poor," and added, "Carrying 40 kg of dry chemical or foam, it can help prevent an EV fire from spreading to the surrounding area."
Hyundai Rotem's unmanned firefighting robot also made an appearance at the exhibition hall. The robot was built on the multipurpose unmanned vehicle HR-Sherpa. Four units are currently deployed at the National 119 Rescue Headquarters and elsewhere. It was dispatched to a factory fire scene in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, in Jan., then to fire scenes in Uijeongbu and Daejeon in Mar. The National Fire Agency plans to introduce 18 additional unmanned firefighting robots over the next two years.
◇ Government investing 30 billion won: overseas buyers also interested
Government-led development of firefighting robots is also picking up speed. The National Fire Agency, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Science and ICT, is conducting research and development (R&D) on new firefighting products and equipment. A representative project is a 30 billion won investment led by the Korea Institute of Robot and Convergence to develop a quadruped walking robot and a track-based fire suppression robot.
The quadruped walking robot for human detection was a configuration with a robot arm attached to a Rainbow Robotics robot body. The robot can search disaster scenes, open doors and enter on its own, and, in situations with gas leaks, close valves, they said. A quadruped walking fire suppression robot capable of extinguishing embers was also displayed.
Beyond robots, various technologies to boost on-site response were introduced. The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) showcased a technology that uses drones to drop fire-extinguishing charges to put out fires. Anguk Engineering exhibited equipment that detects temperature changes in large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) and injects extinguishing agents before thermal runaway occurs. The Yonsei University Health System Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation introduced AI technology that, based on conversations between paramedics and patients, guides first aid and selects an appropriate hospital for transport.
Equipment to ease firefighters' workloads also drew attention. One Autotech showcased a device that washes, dries, and winds fire hoses in a single process. It cuts a 30-minute task down to five minutes, the company said. S-TOP unveiled an emergency escape device that attaches to a self-contained breathing apparatus. It is the first domestically produced model.
The National Fire Agency expects that innovative firefighting equipment and products will also serve as a driver of exports. Foreign government officials and buyers who toured the expo that day showed interest in firefighting robots and AI-based firefighting systems.
Uzbekistan Minister Azizbek Ikramov said, "I chose Korea for my first overseas trip since taking office," and added, "Technologies combining firefighting robots and AI stood out in particular. I hope cooperation between the two countries becomes more active."