Korea Safety Expo 2024 Showcases Advanced Disaster Technologies Amid Growing Climate Risks

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety of Korea and Busan Metropolitan City launched the '2024 Korea Safety Expo (K-SAFETY EXPO 2024)' at BEXCO, Busan, under the theme "Scientific Disaster Safety Management and the Future of Advanced Disaster Safety Industry." The expo, marking its 10th anniversary, aimed to promote excellent disaster safety products and technologies from Korean companies while enhancing disaster management capabilities and raising safety awareness. This event gains significance as climate change and industrial advancements create increasingly complex disaster safety environments requiring innovative technological solutions.

The expo introduced products and technologies utilizing cutting-edge advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and robotics, including drones specifically designed for disaster response. Seven companies and organizations exhibited advanced solutions in the ICT/Climate Disaster Special Zone, including the Digital Twin Water Management Platform from K-Water, wildfire detection and response solutions from Cudo Communication, and stratospheric disaster surveillance drones from Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). These technologies represent critical advancements in proactive disaster management that can save lives and reduce economic losses during emergencies.

The international dimension of the expo underscores its global importance, with the largest-ever overseas delegation including government representatives from Brunei and Mongolia, officials from international organizations like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, over 100 buyers, and diplomatic envoys to South Korea. The Overseas Pavilion showcased advanced products from abroad, such as industrial site safety zone marking lights from Pi Photonics (Japan), drones for detecting hazardous areas from Liberaware (Japan), and fire safety training solutions from COSEM (Singapore). This international participation demonstrates the growing global market for disaster safety technologies and South Korea's emerging leadership position.

Business development activities formed a crucial component of the expo, with a 'Disaster Safety Business Consultation Meeting' facilitating connections between 116 purchasing companies from 18 countries and over 180 expo exhibitors. A separate 'Major Corporations and Public Institutions Purchasing Consultation Meeting' provided business consultations between 58 participating companies and 38 major Korean corporations and public institutions seeking disaster safety products and technologies. These meetings highlight the economic importance of the disaster safety industry and its potential for export growth and international collaboration.

The concurrent 'K-Safety Conference 2024' featured the inaugural 'Global Disaster Safety Business Forum,' a Disaster Safety International Development Cooperation (ODA) Forum, and an International Disaster Cooperation Seminar. The 7th Disaster Safety Policy Briefing for Diplomatic Missions in Korea introduced South Korea's disaster management system and shared information on Korean companies' products and technologies based on cutting-edge technologies like AI and big data. These knowledge-sharing platforms facilitate international standards development and best practice exchange in disaster management, which becomes increasingly vital as natural disasters become more frequent and severe due to climate change.

Educational components included the 'Children's Safety AI Competition,' which introduced song lyrics, safety songs, and safety posters created by elementary students using generative AI tools such as ClovaX, Suno AI, and Adobe Express. Various interactive safety education programs were offered, including the 'Challenge! Children's Safety Golden Bell Quiz' and mobile safety experience classrooms. These initiatives address the critical need for public safety education and awareness, particularly among younger generations who will face increasingly complex disaster scenarios throughout their lives.

Minister Sang-min Lee emphasized that "scientific disaster management based on advanced disaster safety industries is essential to protect the safety and lives of our people" in a rapidly changing disaster safety environment. The expo featured exhibits on disaster prevention, fire safety, industrial safety, traffic safety, security and social safety, and public safety services, with special zones for ICT/Climate Disaster and global disaster safety companies. The concurrent hosting of the '2024 Marine Mobility and Safety Expo' and '2024 K-ICT WEEK in BUSAN' further reinforced the interconnected nature of safety technologies across different sectors and industries.