South Korea transitioned from being one of the world's poorest countries to a member of the OECD.<br />And the major pillar of this change, the so-called "Miracle on the Han River", was the electronics sector.<br />With the industry marking its 60th anniversary, the country's biggest annual electronics show kicked off today, and our Lee Kyung-eun was there.<br />This is where a 60-year miracle began.<br />Back in 1959, the only electronic device in South Korea was the radio,… but now, it boasts an extraordinary spectrum and quality of technology, from AI to semiconductors.<br />Marking the 60th anniversary of the country's electronics sector, the annual Korea Electronics Show kicked off in Coex.<br />"South Korea's tech industry is facing a number of threats,... including the ongoing U.S.-China trade spat and Japan's export curbs.<br />But this year's Korea Electronic Show is again a bustling event with South Korea showing it is still a global powerhouse of innovation."<br />Booths have been set up by some five-hundred local firms at the center of this innovation.<br />The tech giants Samsung and LG are displaying the world's first foldable smartphones and rollable TVs, and start-ups have brought out their original products, including a mirror that uses facial recognition AI to check the user's health.<br />Running through this Friday, the show is expected to attract more than seventy-thousand visitors, and they say this event is special.<br />These technologies not only benefit the lives of ordinary people, but also national security.<br />"We've teamed up with the defense ministry to make car relays that replace mechanical switches with semiconductor switches. This way, they're much lighter, safer and cheaper for both vehicles and tanks."<br />Thanks to these technologies, the electronics sector have been the country's biggest export for 30 consecutive years.<br />Now, South Korea's next task is to continue the momentum.<br />With global competition and external threats increasing, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, in speech at the show, stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation.<br />"Joint cooperation among the government, conglomerates and start-ups is critical for South Korea to maintain its advantage in the global race for innovation, particularly in localizing the production of parts and equipment while diversifying trade partners."<br />The show is expected to contribute to achieving those goals by providing a platform that bring together interest groups from home and abroad.<br />Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News.<br />
