Asia's biggest drone show kicks off in South Korea

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Drone Show Korea, the biggest drone exhibition in Asia, kicked off Wednesday in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan, showcasing cutting-edge drone technologies.

The exhibition features drone technologies of 306 companies from 15 countries that can be used across various industries, from defense and space to future mobility, the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the country's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

This is the largest attendance in the event's 10-year history

With all major South Korean aerospace and defense firms taking part, this year's event has expanded the range of its exhibition to drone-related industries such as new space, future mobility, carbon neutrality and artificial intelligence (AI).

The "drone (industry) is a prominent new industry and a strategic security asset in the era of AI," said First Vice Industry Minister Park Sung-taek in an opening speech of the event.

A new joint consultative body of the military, private defense firms and research institutions was launched on the day in a ceremony held on the sidelines of the exhibition.

The new body will work to advance the defense industry by integrating defense and other state-of-the-art technologies, including AI and drone, and promote the country's arms exports.