AI security forum and motor show to bring together top 5 conglomerates and three battery makers

The 'Smart Energy Plus (SEP) 2026,' widely regarded as Korea's largest private-sector-led energy and mobility technology Daejeon, will be held from the 28th to the 30th. The event, taking place at Hall B of Coex in Seoul Samsung-dong, is co-hosted by Money Today and Coex, and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum.

The themes are 'Energy Daejeon Transformation in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Era' and 'Energy Security Amid Rapidly Changing International Conditions.' These themes reflect an era in which sustainable 'smart energy' is directly linked to AI competitiveness and security. In line with these themes, this year's event will be differentiated from previous editions in three aspects.

The Army will participate in the SEP event for the first time, marking its 8th edition this year. The Army plans to exhibit a mobile microgrid, solar power generation (PV), Energy Storage Systems (ESS), a mobile distribution system, and hydrogen fuel cells—a next-generation energy-based power supply source—along with 30 kW hydrogen-powered vehicles at its own booth.

The mobile microgrid to be exhibited at the venue is configured by installing solar and diesel generators and an ESS on a vehicle. It allows for maneuvering in rough terrain and can deploy a power grid rapidly within 100 minutes. Fixed equipment will be used at garrisons, while mobile equipment will be utilized in operational areas to reconfigure the power grid.

Renewable energy sources such as solar power will be stored in ESS units for use when needed, with diesel generators activated if generation or storage capacity is insufficient. The concept involves utilizing diverse energy sources to prepare for situations where power supply may be unstable. The Army plans to develop systems that can integrate hydrogen and micro-modular reactors (MMRs) in the future.

On the afternoon of the opening day, the 28th, an 'Army Energy Policy Forum' will be held. Approximately 200 attendees are expected, including military personnel, energy-related institutional investors and departments, research institutions, and defense industry representatives.

At the forum, the Army will sign a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for next-generation energy cooperation with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korea Automotive Technology Institute, and the University of Science and Technology.

Participants including Yoon Soon-jin, Dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University; Yang Deok-jun, Head of the Military Logistics Demand and Energy Policy Division at the Army Headquarters; and Shim Hyeon-seop, Head of the Energy Solution Business Center at Hanwha Aerospace, will exchange views on 'energy security.'

One of the keywords for 'SEP 2026' is 'experience,' aiming to provide a tangible glimpse into energy transition in the AI era. LG Group will showcase heat pump technology that replaces fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling; HD Hyundai Electric will present future power grid solutions ranging from eco-friendly ultra-high-voltage power equipment to DC distribution and ESS; and Doosan Enerbility will unveil its generation portfolio, including large nuclear power plants, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), gas turbines, and offshore wind.

Notably, a dedicated Mobility Zone is being established. At the Hyundai Rotem booth in the Mobility Zone, visitors can experience hydrogen electric trams—a future mode of transportation—via Virtual Reality (VR). The VR allows users to view the passenger cabin and driver's seat. Hydrogen electric trams generate their own power by combining hydrogen fuel cells with batteries, eliminating the need for overhead power lines on the road surface.

An eco-friendly vehicle lineup reminiscent of a 'Green Motor Show' can also be seen on site. The Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen electric vehicle Nexo and the Kia PV5 will be exhibited first. Mercedes-Benz Korea will showcase its recently launched electric vehicle, the 'The All-New Electric CLA,' which is the first model to apply Mercedes-Benz's next-generation modular architecture, MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture). BMW Korea will display two units of the 'The New BMW iX3' electric vehicle, which has gained popularity since its recent domestic launch, while Audi Korea will put the electric 'Audi A6 e-tron' on display.

In addition, visitors can see △Porsche Korea's pure electric sports car 'Taycan GTS,' △Polestar Korea's electric vehicle 'Polestar 4 Coupe,' △Buick, GM's global premium automotive brand, PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) 'Electra E7,' and △Lexus Korea's flagship premium sedan ES, specifically the fully redesigned 8th generation model 'All-New ES 350e.'

The business conference, running for two days starting from the 29th, is expected to offer insights into the strategies of leading domestic companies for the AI energy Daejeon transformation era. On the 29th, speakers will include Han Jae-jun, Master (Executive Vice President) of the AX (AI Transformation) and PI (Process Innovation) Center at Samsung Electronics, representing the domestic semiconductor industry; Choi Jun-yong, Vice President of HBM Business Planning at SK Hynix; △Kim Young-hoon, Head of the Robotics Business Division at Hyundai Motor's Robotics Lab; △Yoon Il-yong, Head of the AI Robot Convergence Research Institute at POSCO Holdings' Future Technology Research Institute; △Lee Gwang-won, Head of the Applied Business Division at LG Electronics; and △Kim Hee-seong, Chairman of Bright Energy Partners.

On the 30th, attendees will hear strategies from companies that have fully entered the AI gold rush. In the morning, executives in charge of ESS (Energy Storage System) sales and strategy from the three major Korean battery makers (LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On) will deliver presentations. In the afternoon, Ok Kyung-seok, Executive Vice President in charge of overseas power equipment sales at HD Hyundai Electric, and Kim Seong-yeop, CEO of OCI Power, will explain industry trends regarding the power grid system transforming into AI data centers.

Separate from the main conference, an 'Open Stage' forum has also been arranged. A special session on SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) will be held starting at 2 PM on the 28th. Participants include Yoo Hyang-geun, Team Leader of the Energy Solution Business Division at SK Innovation; Jeon Dae-sik, Won Jeon-gi-sul (Team Lead) of the Energy Solution Business Department at Samsung C&T; Jung Jae-wook, Head of ETF Management Team 3 at Samsung Asset Management; Lee Kang-heon, CEO of RX (Ar-X); and Jang In-sook, Head of the SMR Safety Division at the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. They will explore the potential of SMRs as a power source in the era of the AI data center boom.

The '2026 AI Infrastructure Frontier Conference' will be held starting at 10:30 AM on the 29th. The conference focuses on connecting supply companies that build and operate AI infrastructure with adopting enterprises, as well as demand-side stakeholders such as CIOs (Chief Information Officers) and CAIOs (Chief AI Officers) in the financial and public sectors. Attendees include Kim Eun-ju, Head of the Intelligent Technology Infrastructure Headquarters at the Korea National Defense Intelligence Command Association for Promotion (NIA); Choi Jeong-jin, Head of the Evangelist Group at Samsung SDS; Moon Byung-gi, Head of the OT (Operational Technology) Business Group at SK Shieldus; and Chae Min-young, Division Head (Data Center Business Division) at LG CNS.