As urban sinkholes and ground subsidence incidents become increasingly frequent worldwide, South Korea is accelerating investment in advanced underground safety technologies designed to detect hidden risks before disasters occur.

Reflecting this industry transformation, Korea International Construction & Industrial Safety Expo (K-Consafety Expo) 2026 will launch an expanded Underground Safety Special Zone in cooperation with the Korea Underground Safety Association (KUSA) when the exhibition takes place from 14 to 16 October 2026 at the Kintex exhibition centre in Goyang.

From reactive recovery to predictive underground safety

Underground safety has rapidly become a national priority in Korea following repeated ground subsidence and sinkhole incidents happening around major urban excavation projects.

Recent revisions to Korea’s Underground Safety Act Enforcement Decree, together with local governments’ increasing adoption of AI- and ICT-based monitoring technologies, are fundamentally changing the industry’s approach. Instead of responding after failures occur, the market is shifting towards AI-driven prediction, continuous monitoring and proactive risk management.

Held under the exhibition theme ‘Industrial & Construction AX Transformation and the Hyper Safety Platform,’ the Underground Safety Special Zone will expand to feature 25 exhibitors and 50 booths, presenting technologies covering the complete underground infrastructure lifecycle – from design and geotechnical investigation to monitoring, analysis, maintenance and emergency response.

The exhibition will offer solutions across six key areas:

• Underground infrastructure design

• Underground construction technologies

• Asset management and maintenance

• Ground subsidence prevention and recovery

• Underground inspection and monitoring

• Advanced underground safety technologies

Visitors will have the opportunity to evaluate technologies already deployed on Korean public infrastructure projects under the strengthened national safety regulations.

The organisers shared that several leading companies and research organisations have confirmed their participation in the Underground Safety Special Zone, including:

• KCT ENC – edge AI-based real-time hazard monitoring systems

• Bomin Global – ground penetrating radar (GPR) and geophysical investigation technologies

• Korea University Research Team – continuous excavation technologies for tunnel boring machine (TBM) advancement

• EJ Tech – integrated smart underground safety management platform

• Isung – vehicle-mounted and cart-based GPR inspection systems

• New Tech Construction – trenchless pipe-in-liner rehabilitation technologies

These technologies represent Korea’s latest developments in underground infrastructure resilience, digital monitoring and geotechnical risk management.

Other highlights

Alongside the exhibition, KUSA will organise a new technology presentation showcasing certified innovative technologies, as well as an underground safety policy seminar. This programme will provide updates on the recently revised underground safety legislation while bringing together government officials, engineers, researchers and industry leaders to discuss future technology trends and best practices.

K-Consafety Expo 2026 is officially supported by more than 50 Korean government ministries, public agencies and industry associations. Expected visitors include representatives from:

• Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety (KALIS)

• Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH)

• Korea Expressway Corporation

• Municipal governments responsible for roads, construction and public safety

• Public infrastructure owners and engineering consultants

The exhibition will also host buyer matchmaking programmes, procurement consultation meetings and guided technology tours, connecting exhibitors with both public- and private-sector decision-makers.

According to the organisers, growing government investment in underground infrastructure resilience and preventive safety management is expected to significantly increase demand for advanced monitoring, inspection and geotechnical technologies throughout Korea.