SEOUL, Republic of Korea — August 27, 2026 — The integration of Korea’s two major ground defense exhibitions is moving from organizational consolidation to implementation, with K-DEX 2026 preparing to stage its first unified edition at KINTEX this December.
KADEX and DX KOREA were brought together under the K-DEX framework to create a single exhibition serving Korea’s ground defense industry and its international partners. The first combined event will take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Republic of Korea.
Since the integration was announced, preparations have shifted toward building the exhibitor base, international participation and business programs for the December event. Applications have now been received for more than 1,700 booths, and further companies seeking exhibition space are being managed through a waiting list as availability tightens.
The international profile of the event is also becoming clearer. Nine national pavilions are confirmed from the United States, India, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Portugal. Discussions are continuing with overseas defense organizations, embassies, industry associations, companies and official delegations.
The significance of the integrated format lies in its ability to combine networks that had previously been spread across separate events. For overseas participants, this creates a consolidated route to Korean defense companies and public-sector stakeholders; for Korean industry, it provides a single venue for engagement with international markets and procurement communities.
That role is particularly relevant as Korean defense companies deepen their overseas operations. International cooperation is increasingly built around long-term industrial arrangements — including local production, joint development, technology partnerships and supply-chain participation — rather than equipment transactions alone.
K-DEX 2026 will seek to reflect that shift through a program of organized business engagement. Military and government delegations, procurement authorities, defense attachés, defense-industry representatives and international buyers are expected to participate in G2G, G2B and B2B meetings during the four-day exhibition.
Conferences, seminars and networking activities will support the meeting program, giving participants opportunities to discuss procurement priorities, technology cooperation, market entry and potential industrial partnerships in a more structured setting.
The National Defense Briefing will provide a further channel for international dialogue. Participating countries will be able to outline national defense priorities, capability requirements and procurement environments, helping industry audiences understand potential areas for future cooperation.
The December exhibition will therefore mark more than a change of name or branding. It will be the first opportunity to assess how the combined exhibitor network, international participation and business programs operate within a single K-DEX framework.
With more than 1,700 booths represented in applications and nine national pavilions already confirmed, preparations have advanced beyond the initial integration stage. Additional details on exhibitors, official delegations and international programs will be announced ahead of the opening.
K-DEX 2026 will take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Republic of Korea.
The exhibition is hosted by the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA), the Association of the Republic of Korea Army (AROKA) and the Korea Defense Industry MICE Association (KDM), and organized by Defense Expo, MindsGround and MESSE ESANG.
