The opening of 'Smart Energy Plus (SMART ENERGY PLUS·SEP) 2026,' widely regarded as the largest private-sector-led energy and mobility technology Daejeon in the country, is just one month away.
Co-hosted by MoneyToday and COEX, and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum, 'SEP 2026' will be held from the 28th to the 30th of next month at Hall B of COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong. SEP first launched in 2019 under the name 'Korea Hydrogen Expo.' It was renamed 'Green Business Week (GBW)' in 2022, and has since last year positioned itself as an event encompassing energy and mobility-related technologies under the 'SEP' brand.
The themes of 'SEP 2026' are 'Energy Daejeon in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Era' and 'Energy Security Amid Rapidly Shifting International Conditions.' A notable feature of this year's event is its expansion beyond private-sector energy business to include the military's next-generation energy policies and the realization of energy security. Participating companies are also placing an even greater focus on energy securing strategies for the AI era.
The exhibition will feature booths from companies including LG Group, HD Hyundai Electric, Doosan Enerbility, and Unison, as well as institutional investors such as the Army, Seoul City, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korea Machinery Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Energy Technology, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, the Korea Chemical Research Institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, the Korea Construction Technology Institute, the Technology Guarantee Fund, and the Korea Chemical Convergence Testing Research Institute.
In a separately designated mobility zone, visitors can check the competitiveness of electric and hydrogen vehicles from Hyundai Motor, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Polestar. In the case of Hyundai Rotem, it will create a space where visitors can experience a hydrogen fuel cell tram through VR (virtual reality). At another special stage, the AI Data Center Zone, information exchange and discussions among related industry stakeholders are scheduled to take place.
A deepened conference compared to the previous year is a key highlight of this year's event. On the first day, October 28, an 'Energy Policy Forum' by the Army will be held in the afternoon. Under the direction of the Director of the Logistics Staff Department at the Army Headquarters, approximately 200 people from energy-related institutional investors and departments, research institutions, and defense companies are expected to attend. Topics on the table will include the military's direction for energy transition in response to climate crisis and carbon neutrality, as well as the promotion direction of the Army's next-generation energy policy.
Following this, presentations by high-ranking executives from major domestic conglomerates will continue. On the second day of the event, October 29, executives from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, POSCO Holdings, and LG Electronics will take the mic to explain the rapidly changing energy environment in the AI era. Bright Energy Partners will emphasize the role of renewable energy in responding to all these changes.
On the morning of the third day, October 30, sales and strategy executives from LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On will take the stage. They are expected to explain market strategies for K-batteries tailored to the dawn of the AI era. In the afternoon, companies such as OCI Power and HD Hyundai Electric will discuss the potential participation of Korean power grid companies in the 'AI Gold Rush.'
Side events include the K-Space Forum on October 28, the K-Premier Deep Tech Festa on the 29th, and the Startup King of Kings tournament on the 30th. 'SEP 2026' will be structured as a B2B (business-to-business) exhibition where buyer matching and substantive consultations are possible. It is expected to serve as a platform for exchange that promotes various cooperation opportunities in the domestic industry, including technology partnerships, product supply, and investment attraction. Companies and institutional investors wishing to participate during the remaining period can inquire with MoneyToday or COEX.
in INDUSTRY
