The event is co-hosted by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and the Korea International Trade Association, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Launched in 2001, SPOEX is South Korea’s largest sports industry exhibition and one of Asia’s three major sports industry trade shows. The culture ministry said about 300 companies from South Korea and abroad will take part, and it expects about 46,000 visitors.
Organizers said this year’s show will operate as a platform where visitors can experience the latest sports industry technologies and trends and connect them to business. Exhibits include health and fitness equipment, sporting goods, health care technologies, and underwater and water sports gear. Sports services featuring advanced technologies will also be presented, including AI-based exercise prescription systems and digital fitness measurement solutions.
An “AI + SPO-TECH” special zone will offer hands-on experiences with innovative products and services reflecting global technology trends. A pro sports zone will feature sport-by-sport programs and league-related content, and current and former professional players in baseball, golf and soccer will provide instruction for visitors.
Events on main stages inside the venue will include a bodybuilding competition, fitness demonstrations, yoga and Pilates classes, and K-pop and hip-hop dance contests. Business-focused programs will also be held, including a sports industry job fair, export consultations, investment matchmaking consultations and an industry symposium.
Organizers said networking events among participating companies and investment-linked programs for early-stage firms will be used to strengthen cooperation and support South Korean sports companies’ expansion into global markets.
Kim Daehyeon, vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, visited the opening ceremony on March 26 and encouraged participants. “This exhibition is an important opportunity to promote the technological capabilities and competitiveness of South Korean sports companies in the global market and to create new growth opportunities through cross-industry convergence,” Kim said. “The ministry will actively support the sports industry with policies that reflect on-the-ground demand so it can build a foundation for sustainable growth,” he said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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