Smart Factory + Automation World Seoul: Guide and Leads
By Ilyas Kerbal,
Smart Factory + Automation World (AW) is Korea’s largest exhibition for smart manufacturing. It’s organised by COEX with Korean industry associations including KITA and the Korea Machine Vision Industrial Association. The 2026 edition hosted 500 exhibitors with 2,300 booths and recorded 80,019 visitors over three days. For automation, robotics and machine vision suppliers, the Automation World attendee list reaches engineers at Korea’s semiconductor, battery, automotive and electronics manufacturers.
This guide is for the March 2027 edition.
Automation World key facts
| Industry | Industrial automation |
| City | Seoul, South Korea |
| Venue | COEX (Halls A–D, Lobby, THE PLATZ), Seoul |
| Dates | March, 2026: 4–6 Mar |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | No, always Seoul (COEX) |
| Typical scale | ~70,000 attendees · ~500 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free with pre-registration |
| App / platform | Online registration + KITA/UNIDO buyer matching |
| Official website | automationworld.co.kr |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official Automation World website before you book travel.
The sub-shows
| Show | Focus |
|---|---|
| aimex | Factory automation, PLC and motion control |
| Korea Vision Show | Machine vision and inspection |
| Smart Factory Expo | MES, digital twins, smart factory software |
| Smart Logistics Zone | Warehouse and intralogistics automation |
| AI Factory Pavilion | AI for manufacturing |
Around 200 conference sessions run alongside, including a conference on Chinese humanoid robots.
Automation World fills COEX Halls A–D every March. Photo: Kanzelsberger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Venue and dates
AW is held every March at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, using Halls A–D, the Lobby and THE PLATZ. The 2026 edition ran 4–6 March. Three days is a short window, and the halls get crowded.
Who attends
| Visitor | Interest | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Korean manufacturing engineers (semiconductor, battery, automotive, electronics) | Automation and inspection | Robot, vision and controls vendors |
| Automation integrators | Components and partners | Hardware and software makers |
| Procurement managers | Suppliers and pricing | Equipment makers |
| International buyers (UNIDO/KITA programmes) | Korean equipment | Korean exporters |
| Startups and investors | Partnerships and funding | Corporates, VCs |
| Researchers | Technology | Universities, labs |
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Registration
Pre-registration online is free; fees may apply on site, so check automationworld.co.kr. Conferences and the CEO Summit have separate registration.
Built-in matchmaking
Registration runs through automationworld.co.kr (COEX EMS). Matchmaking options include KITA 1:1 business meetings, UNIDO International Buyer Biz Matching and an Open Innovation Round. These are aimed at Korean exporters meeting foreign buyers. If you’re a foreign supplier selling into Korean factories, you’ll need your own list of engineers and integrators, which is the gap I fill.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Access to Korea’s advanced manufacturers
- Free entry with pre-registration
- Organised buyer matching
- A strong machine vision segment
- Central Seoul venue
Cons
- Mostly Korean-language
- A smaller international exhibitor base
- Crowded COEX halls
- Overlaps with other spring automation shows
- Only three days
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Preparing for Automation World 2027
- Pre-register for free entry.
- Target the Korea Vision Show if you sell inspection or imaging.
- Focus on semiconductor and battery makers; they’re Korea’s biggest automation buyers.
- Work with a Korean integrator if you’re new to the market.
- Book meetings in February.
- Bring Korean materials and local references.
FAQ
When is Smart Factory + Automation World?
Every March at COEX, Seoul. The 2026 edition ran 4–6 March.
Is Automation World free?
Pre-registration is free; fees may apply on site.
What sub-shows are part of AW?
aimex, Korea Vision Show, Smart Factory Expo and a Smart Logistics Zone, plus an AI Factory Pavilion.
Can I get the Automation World attendee list?
There’s no exportable list. I can build an enriched list of exhibitors and attendee profiles.
Order your Automation World attendee and exhibitor list
Event apps are built for browsing, not for sales teams. They cap connections, hide data behind logins and rarely let you export anything. I pull attendee, exhibitor and speaker data from the app and the event website, enrich every profile and hand you a clean file before the doors open, so your reps can book meetings in advance and follow up properly afterwards.
Get in touch to order the Automation World list
Related event guides
- Automation Expo Mumbai: Industrial Automation Show Guide
- PTC ASIA 2026 Shanghai: Power Transmission Show Guide
- CIIF 2026 Shanghai: China International Industry Fair Guide
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: Flexiv Hannover Messe by MichelleACipriano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Seoul COEX Mall by Kanzelsberger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
