KADEX 2026: Will Cheongju Osco Replace Gyeryongdae as the Ultimate Venue?

Translation result

The KADEX organizing committee, led by the Army Association and responsible for South Korea’s largest ground forces defense expo, said on May 3 that it is evaluating Cheongju Osco near Osong Station as a backup venue if plans to hold the event on the Gyeryong runway in South Chungcheong Province ultimately fall through.

In a letter to exhibitors, the committee said KADEX 2026 is shaping up to be the largest edition yet — roughly 2,032 booths from about 450 companies across 21 countries, a 42% increase in booth space compared with the prior event — and reiterated that hosting the show at Gyeryong, home to the tri-service headquarters, remains the preferred option.

The committee said it is pressing to secure permission to use the Gyeryong runway, but is also moving forward with plans for Cheongju Osco as a contingency. It noted that Cheongju Osco sits within reach of key defense organizations — the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the Ja-un-dae garrison and the Sejong Government Complex — and is about a 10-minute walk from Osong Station, where KTX and SRT trains on both the Gyeongbu and Honam lines stop.

Organizers said Cheongju Osco offers both the logistical advantages of Gyeryong and strong access for buyers. To accommodate companies on the waiting list after booth registration closes, the committee plans to add permanent indoor space and an outdoor special exhibition area at Cheongju Osco, expanding the total exhibition footprint beyond the original plan.

The committee also pledged that, even if KADEX 2026 is held at Cheongju Osco, it will maintain ties to the Ground Forces Festival and the Gyeryong Military Culture Festival held on the Gyeryong runway. Visits to those events will be included in the official program so attendees and overseas buyers can view Army equipment in person and get a sense of the Republic of Korea military’s capabilities and regional culture.

Through consultations with the Defense Ministry and other relevant agencies, the committee said it will reach a conclusion on the venue and related adjustments and issue official guidance no later than the end of May. If the venue changes, organizers said they will notify exhibitors promptly and transparently, establish procedures so companies can reassess participation, and take responsible steps to ensure no contractual or preparation-related harms result.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry informed the Army Association last month — roughly five months before the event — that it would deny use of the Gyeryong runway for KADEX, which had been scheduled for Oct. 6–10. Observers say confusion intensified after the ministry moved to mediate an integration of KADEX with the privately run Defense Expo and IDK’s DX Korea, slated for Sept. 16–19 at KINTEX in Goyang.

The ground forces defense expo, held in even-numbered years, has operated as a competitive, separate event since 2024. Ahead of the 2026 show, the Defense Ministry approved sponsorship requests from both organizations, and each proceeded with planning. With only four to five months until the event, the ministry intervened to mediate a merger, prompting the KADEX committee to identify Cheongju Osco as a contingency site in case Gyeryong runway plans are not finalized.