Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trade Mission to South Korea

South Korea trade mission aims to showcase the excellence of British AI technology to potential local clients and business partners

The Department for International Trade in South Korea is inviting companies specialised in Artificial Intelligence technology to join a trade mission to South Korea for AI World Congress (AWC), 28 - 30 September 2022.

This trade show takes place in the coastal city of Busan, as part of the wider K-ICT Week. This will be a unique platform to showcase the excellence of British AI technology to potential local clients and business partners.

Why South Korea?

The AI industry in South Korea has been developing at a remarkable pace for the last few years and has attracted significant interest from every high-value industry.

Korea’s AI market has grown by more than 40% from £642m in 2018 to £957m in 2019, and despite the pandemic which slowed some investments and delayed the implementation of new solutions since 2020, the market is still expected to reach a size of £6.7bn by 2025, all of which suggests strong opportunities for British firms with competitive AI solutions.

The Korean government announced its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2019, and committed to spending £110m to bolster the AI industry in the country and placed particular emphasis on rolling out AI in the public domain, in areas such as healthcare, transportation, and security. Korean conglomerates such as Samsung, LG, SK Telecom, KT, Hyundai, Naver and Kakao, are all investing heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, and are forming partnerships with companies to accelerate the development and commercialisation of their solutions.

Core activity

The Department for International Trade (DIT) offers a unique opportunity for UK companies to promote their innovative AI technologies and solutions effectively to the Korean market and to meet with potential clients and business partners.

The UK pavilion will be built at the exhibition area of AI Korea 2022 in Busan City as part of the K-ICT Week. The selected companies for the UK trade mission will be provided with individual stands with meeting facilities to showcase their products and services.

Government bodies, institutions, and private companies will be exhibiting and visiting. DIT Seoul will be promoting the selected UK companies to local organisations in the area of AI and trying to arrange one on one meetings with local organisations. Interpreters will be provided for the UK companies selected without a Korean-speaking staff to support pre-arranged and on-site meetings with local organisations at the UK pavilion.

All the companies coming to this mission will also be invited to the AI World Congress VIP networking reception. DIT Seoul may be able to arrange individual media interviews for the UK delegates if requested.

Costs and travel

All participants are responsible for their own flights, accommodation, local transport and subsistence. DIT Seoul will be providing a standard booth for each participating UK company and will produce a mission directory and other marketing materials. Please do not make any travel arrangements prior to confirmation of your place on the mission.

Apply to participate in the South Korea trade mission.

If you have any questions, email: Mikyung.Park@fcdo.gov.uk, DIT Seoul.

First published 2 August 2022