KIEMSTA 2026 Opens at Daegu EXCO on the 4th…433 Companies from 25 Countries Participate

The country’s largest agricultural machinery fair, first held in 1992, has opened for the 17th time. Amid growing demand for the mechanization·and automation of farm work due to rural aging and labor shortages, the government and industry plan to use this fair as a stepping stone for domestically made agricultural machinery to advance into overseas markets after on-site demonstrations.

‘2026 Korea International Exhibition of Machinery, Equipment, Science and Technology for Agriculture(KIEMSTA·KIEMSTA 2026)’held its opening ceremony on the 4th at Daegu EXCO(EXCO) and began its four-day schedule through the 7th. The opening ceremony began with an opening declaration by Kim Jae-gi, president of Nongmin Newspaper, followed by the presentation of government honors, opening remarks, welcoming remarks, and congratulatory remarks.

In his opening remarks, Kim Shin-gil, chairman of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative, noted that technology has advanced to the point where agricultural machinery can move and operate on its own. Chairman Kim said, “I hope this fair will be a meaningful occasion that raises the competitiveness of our agricultural machinery and materials industry to the next level and helps it move into the global market”.

The government said it would support not only technology development but also on-site demonstrations and exports. Kim Jung-wook, director general for agri-industry innovation policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said in his congratulatory remarks, “With the aging of rural areas and labor shortages, the mechanization and automation of farm work have become more urgent than ever” and “artificial intelligence, robots, and autonomous driving technologies are responding to these changes and bringing new vitality to the agricultural machinery industry”. Director General Kim said the ministry would expand demonstration infrastructure so that products developed by companies can be sufficiently tested and commercialized in the field. He added that the ministry would also help open new export markets through international exhibitions and overseas on-site demonstrations.

The host city, Daegu, emphasized links with the region’s advanced industries. Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said in his welcoming remarks, “The Korea International Exhibition of Machinery, Equipment, Science and Technology for Agriculture has led the growth of Korea’s agricultural machinery industry over the past 35 years as a biennial event” and “it is even more meaningful that the 17th edition is being held in Daegu for the third time”. Mayor Choo said the event shows Daegu, which has nurtured the robotics and artificial intelligence industries based on its machinery parts industry, leaping forward as a hub city for future agriculture, and said the city would actively support innovation by local companies.

Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit goes to Ham Young-chul, CEO of Ofe Co., Ltd.…recognized for contributions to upland farming mechanization

On the day, eight manufacturing company CEOs received government honors in recognition of their contributions to the development of the agricultural machinery industry .

The Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, the highest honor among this year’s awards, was awarded to Ham Young-chul, CEO of Ofe Co., Ltd.. He was recognized for developing·and distributing intelligent-control harvesters·and seeders and self-propelled soybean combines, thereby raising the mechanization rate of upland farming and increasing farm household income.

The Industrial Service Medal went to Kang Dae-sik, CEO of Greenmax Co., Ltd.. CEO Kang has devoted 36 years to localizing deep rotary tillers and developing AI autonomous agricultural machinery, contributing to the promotion of upland farming mechanization, import substitution, and the development of overseas markets.

Presidential commendations were received by Daesung G-3 Co., Ltd. CEO Choi Jae-kwan, Taekwang General Machinery CEO Lee Wol-young, and Ewha Industrial Co. CEO Lee Seok-jin. CEO Choi Jae-kwan was recognized for localizing agricultural machinery maintenance teaching tools and exporting to 33 countries based on 18 patents. CEO Lee Wol-young was recognized for developing proprietary patented technologies for sprayers·and compost spreaders, among others, while CEO Lee Seok-jin was recognized for maintaining the No. 1 share in household rice milling machines and exporting to 10 countries overseas.

Prime Minister’s commendations were awarded to Gyeongjong Machinery CEO Kwon Ki-won, Daepung Machinery Co., Ltd.  CEO Lee Jae-yong, and Hada Co., Ltd. CEO Ha Jong-woo. CEO Kwon Ki-won developed·and distributed more than 40 agricultural machines and expanded the use of solar-powered safety devices, improving farmers’ driving safety. CEO Lee Jae-yong was selected for his contribution to localizing upland crop implements such as ridge-forming and soil-covering machines. CEO Ha Jong-woo was recognized for his efforts to mechanize upland farming, where the mechanization rate is low. 

Scouting robots·autonomous pest-control machines·and weeding robots gathered in the Future Agriculture Hall

This year’s fair features 433 companies from 25 countries(345 domestic companies, 88 overseas companies), filling 36,230㎡ across EXCO’s east and west halls. Major companies such as Daedong, LS Tractor, TYM, and Asia Technology set up large booths, while 34 companies from the Facility Horticulture Council formed a joint pavilion.

The most eye-catching area is the Future Agriculture Hall. There, visitors can see the future of agriculture, including satellite-based yield prediction solutions and autonomous scouting robots, autonomous pest-control machines, weeding robots, and transport vehicles. The hydrogen tractor from Professor Kim Yong-joo’s team at Chungnam National University was also unveiled again in a more advanced model than in 2024.

The exhibition hall is divided by product category. The west hall houses the Future Agriculture Hall, a smart farm equipment joint pavilion, rice transplanters·seeders, and machinery for fruit trees·and cultivation. The east hall features harvesting·and agricultural processing, smart livestock farming, major components, and overseas·national pavilions from Italy·the Netherlands·Taiwan·and China, among others.

The number of side events has increased from 7 in 2024 to 11. The export consultation meeting has been expanded from one day to two days(4~5th), connecting 55 domestic companies with 20 overseas buyers. On the 5th, the Rural Development Administration’s on-site technical training for agricultural machinery safety specialists and an international symposium on smart agricultural machinery will be held, and on the 6th, an agricultural robot competition and an AI competition will take place.