Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
KOBA 2027 is Korea's premier comprehensive media exhibition, driving advancements in the broadcasting, media, audio, and lighting industries. This event features global brand showcases, conferences, and hands-on content production experiences, allowing attendees to explore the present and future of the media industry.
With over 600 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors expected, KOBA serves as a vital platform for networking and innovation in the media sector. KOBA takes place in Seoul, South Korea.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: KOBA 2027 runs from May 12 to May 15, 2027, at COEX, Seoul, South Korea.
- 2Scale and Focus: This leading media exhibition features over 600 exhibitors and attracts more than 40,000 visitors from 30+ countries.
- 3Organiser: The event is organised by Korea E&EX Co., Ltd., with more details available at kobashow.com.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include media professionals, audio engineers, and broadcasting executives looking for the latest industry innovations.
- 5Entry: Registration is required; visit the official website for details.
Why visit
Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends in broadcasting and media technology, network with industry leaders, and discover innovative products and solutions. This leading media exhibition features over 600 exhibitors and attracts more than 40,000 visitors from 30+ countries. Attendees include media professionals, audio engineers,.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors at KOBA can showcase their latest products to a targeted audience of media professionals, gain visibility in the industry, and establish valuable connections that can lead to new business opportunities. The event provides a platform to launch new products and engage with potential clients directly.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Broadcasting engineers and technicians
Media production professionals
Audio and lighting specialists
Content creators and producers
Marketing and sales executives in media
Industry analysts and consultants
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Manufacturers of broadcasting equipment
Audio and lighting technology providers
Media content production companies
Software developers for media applications
Event production and management firms
Distributors of media technology
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Broadcasting equipment and technology
Audio and sound systems
Lighting solutions for media
Media production software
Content creation tools
Streaming and transmission technology
Location & Facilities
Venue
COEX
511, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06164, South Korea
Facilities
Parking
COEX in Seoul typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: COEX in Seoul typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at COEX for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Event days & opening times
DayOpening hours
May 12 to May 15, 2027:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Seoul, South Korea
Why it matters
On 2027-05-12 to 2027-05-15, KOBA in Seoul covering Broadcasting equipment and technology, Audio and sound systems, Lighting solutions for media, Media production software, gives trade buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · KRW
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Seoul
Primary international gateway serving Seoul.
to venue
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
InterContinental Seoul Parnas
5-star
Samsung-dong / COEXDirectly adjacent to COEX and the Korea World Trade Center complex to venueUSD 250–340 / night
Approx. KRW 340,000-465,000 per night, estimate for a five-star property on the COEX doorstep; convention-period rates rise, so book early.
Multiple restaurants and bars, fitness center and pool, business center, meeting space, parking, free Wi-Fi in public areas
Shilla Stay Samsung
4-star
Samsung-dong / GangnamNear COEX Convention & Exhibition Center (approx. 1 km) to venueUSD 150–190 / night
Approx. KRW 205,000-260,000 per night; guest rating 4.0 on Google Hotels, a reliable mid-upper option a short walk from the halls.
Breakfast, free Wi-Fi, fitness center, restaurant, business corner, parking
Ibis Style hotels (Seoul)
3-star
Gangnam / COEX district760 m from COEX Convention & Exhibition Center to venueUSD 95–122 / night
Google Hotels captured around KRW 150,000 per night for a 12-15 May 2027 stay; treat this as a band and reconfirm before booking.
Breakfast (paid), free Wi-Fi, parking (paid), air conditioning, fitness center, bar, restaurant, full-service laundry
The Ace Hotel, Seoul
3-star
Gangnam / COEX district690 m from COEX Convention & Exhibition Center to venueUSD 95–122 / night
Approx. KRW 130,000-170,000 per night; simple business hotel within walking distance of Samseong Station and the COEX concourse.
Free Wi-Fi, free parking, air conditioning, smoke-free property
Hotel Gray
3-star (budget)
Gangnam / COEX district940 m from COEX Convention & Exhibition Center to venueUSD 95–122 / night
Approx. KRW 130,000-170,000 per night; cheapest of the shortlisted Gangnam options for crews who mainly need a bed near the halls.
Free Wi-Fi, parking, smoke-free property
Park Hyatt Seoul
5-star
Samsung-dong / Teheran-roAcross Teheran-ro from COEX (approx. 500 m walk) to venueUSD 300–420 / night
Approx. KRW 410,000-575,000 per night, upper-tier estimate for hosting meetings; rates spike during Korean convention weeks.
Fine-dining restaurant, indoor pool, spa, fitness center, business services, valet parking, free Wi-Fi
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
AREX express train plus Seoul Metro
Estimated costKRW 2-8 typical single public transport journey (confirm before travel)
Best forIncheon International Airport T1/T2 to Seoul Station, then Line 2 or Line 9 to Samseong / Bongeunsa
Fastest rail option when you land at ICN; buy a one-time ticket or use a T-money card for the metro transfer.
AREX all-stop commuter train
Estimated costKRW typical airport or regional rail single journey (confirm before travel)
Best forIncheon International Airport to Seoul Station, then transfer to Line 2 or Line 9
Cheaper than the express service and only moderately slower; useful for crews arriving outside peak hours.
Airport limousine bus 6103
Estimated costApprox. KRW 16,000-18,000 one way on the 6103 limousine (confirm current fare)
Best forIncheon Airport T1 to Seoul Gangnam COEX City Airport Terminal (non-stop)
Dedicated non-stop limousine route that drops at the COEX City Airport Terminal in Gangnam; bookable via Seoul Travel Pass.
Taxi (ICN to COEX)
Estimated costKRW 45,000–85,000 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Best forIncheon International Airport to COEX, Samseong-dong
Driving distance from Seoul to Incheon Airport is roughly 32 km in a straight line, but the road route is longer; kstaxi.net publishes a dedicated ICN to COEX taxi guide.
Seoul Metro (Line 2 / Line 9)
Estimated costKRW 2-8 typical single public transport journey (confirm before travel)
Best forSamseong Station (Line 2) or Bongeunsa Station (Line 9) to COEX halls
Samseong on Line 2 is the closest station to the COEX halls; Bongeunsa on Line 9 is the alternative from the airport direction.
Kakao T / taxi short hop in Gangnam
Estimated costKRW 45,000–85,000 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Best forGangnam or Samsung-dong hotel to COEX
Worth it with sample cases or in heavy rain; base fare applies, so walking is often faster at rush hour.
COEX on-site parking
Estimated costApprox. KRW 1,000-2,000 per 30 minutes with a daily cap that varies by event (confirm at the venue before parking)
Best forCOEX underground car park, Gangnam-gu
Exhibitors with vans or demo kit should pre-arrange build-up parking and loading-dock slots through the exhibitor manual rather than using visitor parking.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. KRW taxi/rideshare from ICN to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forSeoul (ICN) to COEX
Approx. 60-80 min by car or limousine bus depending on traffic; Main international gateway for Seoul and the airport used by most KOBA overseas exhibitors and visitors; AREX rail, the 6103 limousine and taxis all connect to Gangnam.
Weather
Seoul in mid-May is late spring: typical daytime highs sit around 22-25 C with overnight lows near 12-15 C, and rain is possible but the monsoon (jangma) usually holds off until late June. These are climatological bands rather than a forecast for the KOBA week; check a live Korean forecast (KMA or a weather app) about a week before travel. Air quality can vary with Yellow Dust events in spring, so sensitive visitors should check the daily AQI, and the free Open-Meteo air-quality feed for Seoul showed moderate-to-good values at the time of capture.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile: 5G and LTE coverage is dense across Gangnam and the COEX complex. Short-term visitors can buy a tourist SIM or eSIM from SKT, KT or LG U+ at Incheon Airport arrival halls or online before landing; a Korean number helps with restaurant bookings and Kakao T. Power: South Korea uses 220V at 60Hz with Type C and Type F round-pin sockets, so bring an adapter for UK, US and Australian plugs; most laptops and camera chargers are dual-voltage. Wi-Fi: COEX halls and the underground mall carry venue Wi-Fi, but exhibitors should order dedicated booth connectivity through the exhibitor manual for live streaming, IP-based broadcast demos or cloud production demos.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Samseong-dong and the COEX complex
COEX sits above the COEX Mall in Gangnam-gu and combines exhibition halls, the COEX City Airport Terminal, restaurants, a cinema and the Starfield Library. Allow extra time to navigate the underground concourse between halls, and use the Samseong Station (Line 2) passages to stay indoors in bad weather.
Paying and tipping
Prices are quoted in Korean won (KRW); cards are accepted almost everywhere in COEX and Gangnam, and tipping is not customary in Korea. A T-money transit card covers metro, bus and many convenience-store payments.
Business card etiquette
Exchanging cards with both hands and a slight bow is standard; receive a card with both hands, read it before putting it away, and avoid writing on a card in front of the person who gave it. Korean counterparts often appreciate a card with a Korean-language side.
Meetings and after-hours
Technical discussions can move from the stand to a nearby restaurant or a samgyeopsal and soju dinner, where seniority shapes seating and pouring. Accepting a small glass or a coffee is a low-effort way to keep the relationship moving without over-committing.
Language and signage
Korean is the working language on most stands, with English common among engineers and export managers. Hall signage and the metro are bilingual, but taxi drivers rarely speak English, so show the Korean address for COEX or your hotel.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: ICN
Fly into Incheon International (ICN) for the shortest transfer to COEX; Gimpo (GMP) is an option for domestic and Japan/China connections. Captured Google Flights samples for the May 2027 show window show non-stop Tokyo-Seoul hops of about 2 hr 25 min to 2 hr 45 min on ZIPAIR, Air Premia or Korean Air, roughly 12 hr 40 min non-stop London-Seoul with Korean Air or Virgin Atlantic, and about 10 hr 30 min non-stop Sydney-Seoul with Jetstar or Qantas. Google flagged the London route as cheaper than usual at capture time and advised booking roughly December to early March for May departures, so treat fares as indicative and re-check before purchase.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Seoul (ICN): Primary international gateway serving Seoul.. Allow road or rail time to COEX; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near COEX: Samsung-dong / COEX: InterContinental Seoul Parnas; Samsung-dong / Gangnam: Shilla Stay Samsung; Gangnam / COEX district: Ibis Style hotels (Seoul).
Ride-hail: Kakao T is the dominant ride-hailing app in Seoul and works with an international card if you register a foreign number or use the English interface; Uber also operates in the city with similar coverage. Rides from Samseong-dong hotels to COEX are short (approx. KRW 4,000-8,000) but walking through the COEX concourse is often faster at rush hour. At Incheon Airport, use the official taxi rank rather than unbooked drivers, and keep the Korean address of your hotel ready for the driver.
Public transit: COEX is best reached on Seoul Metro Line 2 to Samseong Station, whose exits connect directly into the COEX underground concourse and the exhibition halls; Bongeunsa Station on Line 9 is the alternative and is convenient from the airport direction. From ICN, take the AREX express or all-stop train to Seoul Station and transfer, or ride the 6103 airport limousine non-stop to the COEX City Airport Terminal in Gangnam. Overnight arrivals can use the N6000 or N6701 night buses toward Gangnam. Use a T-money card for tap-in fares of approx. KRW 1,400-1,550 per journey and allow 60-90 minutes from the airport by rail plus transfer.
Parking: COEX has a large underground car park with direct lift access to the halls; visitor parking is charged by time (approx. KRW 1,000-2,000 per 30 minutes, with daily caps that change by event, confirm at the venue). Exhibitors arriving with vans, LED tiles or lighting fixtures should book build-up loading-dock slots and exhibitor parking through the official exhibitor manual rather than driving into visitor parking, and allow extra time because Samseong-dong traffic backs up during build-up and breakdown days.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: May 2027
Temperature: Typical mid-May Seoul bands, not a forecast: daytime highs around 22-25 C and overnight lows around 12-15 C, with the COEX halls air-conditioned and often cool during long sessions.
Seasonality: Mid-May sits in Seoul's spring window before the East Asian monsoon (jangma), which usually arrives in late June to July; spring rain showers and occasional Yellow Dust episodes are possible. Check the Korean Meteorological Administration forecast and the daily air-quality index within a week of travel rather than relying on seasonal averages.
Packing: Pack light layers for mild days and cool evenings, a compact umbrella or light rain shell, and comfortable low-heeled shoes for concrete exhibition halls and the long COEX underground walkways. Bring a Type C or Type F adapter for 220V Korean sockets, a T-money card for metro fares, plenty of business cards for stand meetings, and a power bank because demo-heavy days drain phones quickly.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at KOBA usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
Day 14
Pre-register on kobashow.com for the May 2027 KOBA edition, save the confirmation e-mail and check badge collection hours at the COEX registration desk in Gangnam-gu.
Day 10
Book flights into Incheon International (ICN) and choose a Samseong-dong or Samsung-dong hotel such as Hotel Uri&, The Ace Hotel Seoul or Shilla Stay Samsung so the halls are walkable.
Day 7
Fix the airport transfer plan: AREX express to Seoul Station plus Line 2 to Samseong, the 6103 airport limousine to the COEX City Airport Terminal, or a taxi at approx. KRW 70,000-90,000.
Day 5
Build a target exhibitor list from the KOBA floor plan by category (cameras and lenses, switchers and IP routing, audio consoles, lighting and rigging, LED and XR) and request meetings.
Day 3
Check the Seoul forecast and air-quality index, pack light layers plus an umbrella, and confirm a Type C or Type F 220V adapter for Korean sockets.
Day 1
Load a T-money card, preview the COEX hall layout and note that Samseong Station on Line 2 feeds directly into the COEX underground concourse.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at COEX
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2KOBA registration concourse
COEX
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
COEX
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights₩190
- Per diem × 2₩150
Estimated total₩340
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether KOBA fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For KOBA, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Broadcasting equipment and technology and Audio and sound systems solutions and benchmarking suppliers at KOBA in Seoul.
Min. budget
$500,000.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Broadcasting equipment and technology and Audio and sound systems products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$500,000.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Seoul show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
Which airport should I fly into for a COEX exhibition in Seoul?
Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the main gateway, roughly 32 km from COEX. The AREX airport railroad plus Seoul Metro Line 9, the non-stop 6103 airport limousine to the COEX City Airport Terminal, and taxis (approx. 1 hr 20 min to 1 hr 50 min) are the common transfers.
Which hotels are within walking distance of COEX?
Google Hotels lists 160 properties around COEX. Named examples include Hotel Uri& (340 m, 4-star), The Ace Hotel, Seoul (690 m, 3-star), Ibis Style hotels (760 m, 3-star), Hotel Gray (940 m) and Shilla Stay Samsung, all in Gangnam-gu.
How do I reach COEX by metro?
Samseong station and Bongeunsa station on Seoul Metro Line 9 serve the COEX district; from Incheon Airport the trip uses the AREX plus Line 9 in roughly two hours. The COEX City Airport Terminal in Gangnam is also reachable by airport limousine bus 6103.
When should I book flights to Seoul for a May exhibition?
Google Flights data for the 12-16 May 2027 window shows Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney routes priced as typical, while London fares are flagged as low versus the usual fare. Google notes the cheapest booking window for Tokyo-Seoul is usually Dec 3 to Mar 3.
Glossary
- UHD (Ultra High Definition)
- Broadcast capture and delivery formats at 4K (3840x2160) or 8K resolution, the production baseline shown in the camera, switcher and monitor lines at KOBA.
- HDR (High Dynamic Range)
- Extended luminance and colour range used in acquisition, grading and playout (HLG, PQ); drives monitor, LUT and workflow decisions for Korean drama and sports productions.
- SDI (Serial Digital Interface)
- Uncompressed video transport over coaxial cable, in 3G, 6G and 12G variants; still the backbone linking cameras, switchers and recorders on most Korean OB trucks.
- SMPTE ST 2110
- Standard for carrying separate video, audio and metadata essences over IP networks; relevant to broadcasters moving from baseband routers to COTS switch fabrics.
- NDI (Network Device Interface)
- IP video protocol widely used for lower-cost, low-latency contribution between cameras, software switchers and streaming encoders on studio and venue networks.
- Vision mixer / production switcher
- The control surface and processing engine that cuts, mixes and keys multiple camera and graphic sources live; a core exhibit category for broadcast and live-event buyers.
- PTZ camera
- Robotic pan-tilt-zoom camera used for unmanned studio, house-of-worship and conference capture, controlled over IP or serial protocols.
- Digital mixing console
- FOH or broadcast audio desk handling channel processing, routing and automation; in Korea it spans live sound for broadcast studios, concert halls and church venues.
- Line array loudspeaker
- Curved vertical loudspeaker array that steers coverage over long throw distances, standard for arena, outdoor stage and large auditorium sound reinforcement.
- Moving head luminaire
- Motorised stage light offering pan, tilt, zoom, colour and gobo effects; central to the lighting side of KOBA for rental houses and TV studio lighting teams.
- DMX512 / Art-Net / sACN
- Lighting control protocols: DMX512 over cable, Art-Net and sACN over Ethernet. Console and node compatibility is a practical specification question on the show floor.
- Fine-pitch LED video wall
- Tiled LED display with sub-2mm pixel pitch used for virtual sets, XR stages and broadcast backdrops; judged on pitch, brightness, refresh and processing.
- Virtual production / XR stage
- LED volume with camera tracking and real-time rendering that replaces green screen; Korean studios increasingly use these for drama, music video and broadcast graphics.
- Wireless microphone system
- UHF radio microphone chains comprising transmitter, receiver and antenna distribution; frequency coordination and licensing are the key practical constraints in Korea.
- Intercom / talkback
- Partyline or matrix communications linking director, camera, lighting and stage crew during production; sold alongside audio and control systems at broadcast trade fairs.
- MAM / playout automation
- Media asset management and automated playout software that catalogues, schedules and emits content; part of the file-based workflow zone relevant to broadcast engineering visitors.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- KOBA 2027
- KOBA Seoul 2027
- KOBA COEX Seoul
- Korea broadcast equipment show
- broadcast audio lighting Korea
- Korean broadcast industry fair
- pro audio show Seoul
- lighting equipment expo Korea
- KOBA visitor registration
- UHD broadcast technology Korea
Trust footer
Sources
5
References
2
Publishers
0
Date checked
1
Korea E&EX Co., Ltd.
- event_website
2
KOBA
- event_social
- event_social
- event_social
- event_social
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.