The "Avengers" of the energy industry are set to make a full appearance at "Smart Energy Plus (SMART ENERGY PLUS, SEP) 2026," which is just one week away.
Co-hosted by Money Today and COEX, and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum, the event will be held from the 28th to the 30th at Hall B of COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong. The themes are "Energy Daejeon Transformation in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Era" and "Energy Security Amid Rapidly Changing International Conditions." These themes reflect the current era, in which sustainable "smart energy" is directly linked to AI competitiveness and security.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 10:10 a.m. on the 28th, will be attended by Kang Ho-byung, CEO of Money Today; Cho Sang-hyun, CEO of COEX; and figures from the political, economic, and academic sectors. President Lee Jae-myung had previously presented a vision for "a new economic growth driver combining AI and energy power grids" through a congratulatory message read on his behalf by then Cheong Wa Dae Communications Chief Lee Gyu-yeon at "SEP 2025," which was held last year.
Immediately following the opening ceremony, the "Army Energy Policy Forum" will take place. Approximately 200 attendees are expected, including military personnel, energy-related institutional investors and departments, research institutions, and defense industry representatives. At this session, 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.
Forum participants, including Yoon Soon-jin, Dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University; Yang Deok-joon, Head of the Army Headquarters' Logistics Demand and Energy Policy Division; and Shim Hyeon-seop, Head of the Energy Solution Business Center at Hanwha Aerospace, will exchange views on "energy security."
Starting on the 29th, "AI Energy All-Stars" who are Gi Eop-eul (CEO) will take the stage. The lineup begins with Han Jae-jun, Master (Senior Executive Vice President) of the AX (AI Transformation) and PI (Process Innovation) Center at Samsung Electronics, a representative of the domestic semiconductor industry, and Choi Jun-yong, Vice President of HBM Business Planning at SK Hynix.
Following them are Kim Young-hoon, Head of the Robotics Business Division at Hyundai Motor's Robotics Lab; Yoon Il-yong, Director 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.
After the conclusion of the conference on the 29th, the "Carbon Neutrality Academy Network Session" will continue from 3 p.m. This year's theme is "Changing Environments: Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement Strategies."
Participants include Cho Young-jun, Director of the Sustainable Management Institute at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Lee Jung-seok, Jeong Chaek-chong-gwal (Team Lead) of the Renewable Policy Division at the Korea Energy Agency; Han Jimin, Head of the ESG Group at Samsung Biologics; Song Gi-seop, Head of the Energy Platform Business Team at Hyundai E&C; and Kim Seung-hee, Senior Manager at KEI Consulting. They will discuss corporate renewable energy procurement strategies.
On the 30th, attendees can hear about the strategies of companies that have fully entered the AI gold rush. In the morning session, executives in charge of ESS (Energy Storage System) sales and strategy from the "Big Three" K-battery makers (LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On) will present their insights. In the afternoon, Ok Kyung-seok, Senior 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 as the power grid sector transforms toward 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 from 2 p.m. 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 the ETF Management 3 Team at Samsung Asset Management; Lee Gang-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 from 10:30 a.m. 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 Institute for Advancement of Defense Intelligence Command (NIA); Choi Jung-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.
The exhibition, which runs for three days, will feature booths from companies such as LG Group, HD Hyundai Electric, Doosan Enerbility, and Yuneec, as well as institutional investors including the Army, Seoul City, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and the Korea Machinery Research Institute. LG Group is set to exhibit next-generation heat pumps; HD Hyundai Electric will showcase eco-friendly ultra-high-voltage power equipment solutions; Doosan Enerbility will display nuclear power, SMR, and gas turbine technologies; and Yuneec will present wind turbine technology.
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. Hyundai Rotem will create a space where visitors can experience a hydrogen fuel cell tram through VR (Virtual Reality). Coinciding with "SEP 2026," the K-Space Forum (on the 28th), the K-Premier Deep Tech Festa (on the 29th), and the Startup King of Kings Tournament (on the 30th) will also be held.
Through the three-day exhibition and conference, it is expected that directions for energy Daejeon transformation in the AI era and the pursuit of energy security can be derived. Free admission is available for those who pre-register through the "SEP 2026" homepage. Applications to participate in the "AI Infrastructure Frontier Conference" can also be made via the same website.
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