Enhancing Industrial Competitiveness and Resolving Shared Challenges through Advanced Industry and Supply Chain Cooperation
AI Takes Full Center Stage; Largest Ever Gathering as Some 500 Korean and Japanese Companies Convene to Implement Economic Cooperation

Amid the spreading flow of economic cooperation driven by recent reciprocal visits between the leaders of both countries, approximately 500 Korean and Japanese companies gathered to implement economic cooperation, enhance competitiveness, and resolve shared challenges (economic security, population aging, etc.).

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (Minister Kim Jung-kwan) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (hereinafter "KOTRA," President Kang Kyung-sung) announced that they held the [2026 Korea-Japan Business Plaza]—a venue for integrated trade, investment, and technology exchange cooperation—on May 27 at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo.

This business cooperation event was composed of three programs: (1) the AI Cooperation Forum and Exhibition Consultations (AI Frontier Korea in Japan), (2) one-on-one matchmaking consultations in the robotics and power sectors (GP Japan), and (3) a semiconductor investment-attraction IR program. With 75 Korean companies and approximately 420 Japanese companies participating, the event expanded issues in export, investment, technology, and supply chain cooperation into business collaboration.

▶ AI and Semiconductor Cooperation Forum and Exhibition Consultations: "AI Frontier Korea in Japan"

At [AI Frontier Korea in Japan], 42 Korean AI technology companies participated and conducted one-on-one export and investment consultations, technology demonstrations, startup pitching, and a semiconductor cooperation forum with major Japanese corporations such as NEC, Mizuho, and SoftBank, as well as seven local governments and venture capital firms (VC and CVC).

▶ Robotics and Power Industry Supply Chain Cooperation: "Global Partnering Japan (GP Japan)"

At [Global Partnering Japan (GP Japan)], which supports supply chain entry aligned with the demand of major Japanese corporations, 33 Korean companies in the fields of robotics and machinery parts and modules, as well as power and energy equipment, participated and conducted export consultations with approximately 90 major Japanese corporations and vendors—including TEPCO, JERA, Yamato Transport, and Ebara Corporation—to enter Japan's manufacturing supply chain. Robotics and precision machinery parts, automation solutions, power generation and transmission/distribution equipment, and ESS were presented as promising fields for market entry, tailored to Japan's domestic industrial demand such as humanoid robots and physical AI, smart factories, and data center power requirements.

KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung stated, "Both Korea and Japan are world-class industrial powers, and as Korea holds high competitiveness in advanced ICT and Japan in materials, parts, and equipment, there is considerable room for cooperation between the two countries." He added, "We will do our utmost to expand the growing flow of economic cooperation between the two countries into business collaboration among companies, thereby enhancing the industrial competitiveness of both nations and supporting the resolution of shared challenges such as economic security and population aging."



Source：Invest KOREA (2026.05.28.)