Outstanding Disaster Safety R&D Achievements Honored at K-Safety Expo 2026 Opening Ceremony

Eight researchers were honored at K-Safety Expo 2026 for disaster-safety R&D in AI, flood prediction, firefighting robots and more.

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, September 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Eight research and development achievements addressing wildfires, drought, illegal drones and other real-world disaster challenges honored at the Sept. 2 opening ceremony at BEXCO in Busan.

From predictive technologies to specialized materials and integrated management platforms, a wide range of innovations strengthening on-site disaster response came together in one place.

Park Hyung-bae, Director General of the Safety and Prevention Policy Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety: "We will actively support R&D in disaster safety and the expansion of its outcomes"

Eight researchers who achieved outstanding research and development results in disaster and safety management received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award at the opening ceremony of K-Safety Expo 2026, which opened Sept. 2 at BEXCO in Busan.

The Korea Disaster Safety R&D Awards, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Minister Yoon Ho-jung), recognize researchers from the public sector and private companies who have achieved notable results in disaster safety research. The awards have been presented annually since 2019.

The ministry called for candidates from May 28 to June 30, then selected the eight winners through a review and expert presentation evaluation process.

This year's winning technologies addressed a broad range of real-world disaster challenges. One project uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the spread paths of wildfires and deliver the forecasts to local governments in real time, paired with research into an eco-friendly agent that slows the spread of flames; the technology has already proven its worth in actual wildfire suppression operations. In the skies, a publicly operated AI drone technology used in disaster and public safety operations drew attention, alongside an AI-based response technology that detects and disables illegal drones threatening key facilities such as airports and nuclear power plants.

Ideas targeting water shortages also stood out. One technology uses only the natural drop in elevation of rainwater, without any external power or motor, to lift and supply irrigation water to fields on higher ground; field trials in farming communities confirmed it significantly reduced water shortages during dry seasons. A high-performance structural steel material that maintains its strength under earthquakes, fires and extreme marine conditions, and was successfully domestically developed, was also recognized as a technology that will help build disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Also among the winners were an integrated management platform that monitors information on aging reservoirs nationwide from a single screen to help detect flood risks early; a mobile communications base station technology that can operate reliably without communication outages at disaster sites; a platform that analyzes rainfall and drainage conditions in real time to predict urban flooding in advance; and a testing and evaluation system that verifies the performance of firefighting robots and specialized extinguishing rounds. Many of these technologies have already been applied at disaster and safety control centers run by local governments, or at actual disaster sites, with their effectiveness confirmed, and they are expected to see wider use at safety management sites across the country going forward.

Park Hyung-bae, Director General of the Safety and Prevention Policy Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "We thank the researchers who produced outstanding research achievements in the field of disaster safety and contributed to building a safer Korea." He added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will continue to actively support research and development (R&D) in disaster safety and the expansion of its outcomes."

K-Safety Expo 2026, where the awards ceremony was held, runs under the theme "Convergence of Advanced Technology, the Future of Safety" from Sept. 2 (Wednesday) to Sept. 4 (Friday) at BEXCO in Busan, co-hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Busan Metropolitan City. A total of 340 companies and institutions from Korea and abroad are taking part, showcasing the latest disaster safety technologies in AI, robotics, drones and more.

Davis Kim
AVING News
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Live coverage of participating companies showcasing innovative safety technologies at K-Safety Expo 2026