KINTEX, South Korea's leading exhibition and convention center operator, has opened K-Med Expo Vietnam 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, signaling a strategic push into the Southeast Asian medical device market. The event, running from April 4 to 6 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), focuses on helping Korean medical device companies expand overseas sales channels and connect with local buyers. This move aligns with CEO Lee Min-woo's global expansion strategy, which emphasizes transforming KINTEX from a venue operator into a global MICE platform.
Market signal
K-Med Expo Vietnam 2026 marks the fourth edition of this specialized medical device exhibition. It features 80 Korean companies showcasing digital healthcare solutions, diagnostic and surgical equipment, aesthetic devices, and dental materials. The event attracts major local hospital representatives and international buyers for export consultations and partnership discussions. For overseas distributors and clinic buyers, this signals growing Korean medical device manufacturers' interest in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, as a key market for aesthetic and medical technologies.
Regulatory and channel signals
Beyond exhibition operations, KINTEX is strengthening its role as a global business platform by integrating local regulatory support and export consulting. The event includes a Korea-Vietnam medical device regulation seminar, one-on-one buyer meetings organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and an export consulting program. This comprehensive approach helps foreign buyers navigate regulatory hurdles and establish reliable supply chains, making it easier to source Korean aesthetic devices and consumables.
Sourcing context
KINTEX's global expansion strategy, initiated under CEO Lee Min-woo, includes establishing a MICE advisory board in March 2025, composed of four academic experts. The board will advise on operational strategies for the upcoming third exhibition hall and anchor hotel, as well as mid-to-long-term management direction. This infrastructure expansion positions KINTEX as a more attractive sourcing hub for international buyers seeking Korean medical aesthetics products, from devices to injectables and clinic setup solutions.
What buyers should watch
For importers and distributors of aesthetic devices and medical consumables, K-Med Expo Vietnam provides a direct channel to evaluate Korean manufacturers and establish partnerships. The inclusion of regulatory seminars and buyer matching programs reduces entry barriers for overseas buyers. As KINTEX expands its global MICE platform, similar events in other Southeast Asian markets may follow, offering repeated opportunities for sourcing and networking.
Source: Read the original report | Published: June 04, 2026
