Naver, Samsung SDS, LG CNS and Kakao, among domestic AI solution corporations, all gathered on the 23rd at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi. It was the site of the "2026 Public AI Expo," hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and organized by the National Information Society Agency (NIA).
The government prepared this expo with the aim of growing the public AI market to help domestic AI corporations expand and introducing advanced AI solutions into public administration to improve people's quality of life.
Government-led expos have often focused on seminars and conferences, centering on networking among stakeholders, but this expo was held in the format of an industry fair seeking practical business cooperation. Vice Minister Kim Min-jae of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said, "The latest AI solutions and cloud technologies of innovative corporations are a key driving force to improve the quality of public services," adding, "By making the government a test bed for AI technologies, we will drive the growth of the domestic AI market."
At the corporate exhibition hall, visitors could explore the AI technologies of 52 companies, including innovative startups such as Alice Group and Kodeit, as well as large corporations. The hall consisted of four zones: ▲ AI solutions ▲ disaster recovery (DR) ▲ AI platforms and cloud ▲ startup innovation technologies. In each zone, visitors could experience the latest public AX technologies, ranging from automating administrative tasks to AI-based disaster response systems.
An "AI Champion Hackathon" was also held, featuring AI leads from central and local governments and public institutions. In the hackathon, which drew 48 people across 24 teams, an idea competition unfolded to improve citizen-facing services using AI, divided into two parts: "public safety" and "welfare benefits." The eight teams that made it through the semifinals that day will compete in the final on the 24th.
A cooperation program in the public AI field is also being run. On the 23rd, the "Global Public AI Forum" was held with overseas figures from Serbia, Indonesia and Laos, and on the 24th, the "Local Government AI Innovation Case-Sharing Network Forum" will be held to share local governments' artificial intelligence (AI) innovation cases.
At the expo, a "pan-ministry K-AI GOV alliance signing ceremony" was also held with five ministries participating: the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. A MOIS official explained that this was an expression of intent to establish a government-wide cooperation framework to accelerate the introduction of public AI and to provide full support so that our corporations can become competitive in the global market.
A "docent tour" is also being operated to help visitors easily understand AI technologies and policies. A MOIS official said, "We provide tailored explanations for each group, including foreigners, young people and students," adding, "After the tour, we will collect policy proposals on an 'AI democratic government' and reflect the public's voice in government policy."
Jeong Jae-seung, a professor in the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST, who delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony, said, "What has changed most since the adoption of AI is 'prediction.' It can be used across various areas of public administration, including welfare, health, transportation, environment and education," adding, "If the past 30 years of e-government promoted the digitization of administration, the next 30 years of e-government should aim for intelligence for the happiness of the people."