IFEZ Journal

- IFEZ achieves the highest nationwide performance according to Insights from Companies in Korea’s Free Economic Zones

- Highlights from CES 2026, where IFEZ companies secured a record 17 Innovation Awards

ISSUE 1. IFEZ Demonstrates Its Leadership as “No. 1 in Korea” with KRW 113 Trillion in Revenue and Accountable for 60% of the National Performance.

According to the business status survey conducted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, 3,800 or more companies based in IFEZ achieved the highest performance nationwide across all key metrics, including revenue and investment. The total revenue of IFEZ-based companies reached approximately KRW 113.26 trillion, representing 59.7% of the combined revenue of all nine Free Economic Zones in Korea, thereby securing an unparalleled first place. This indicates that IFEZ accounts for more than half of the nation’s overall performance, solidifying IFEZ’s position as the “engine of the Korean economy.” In terms of investment, IFEZ-based companies recorded KRW 3.4077 trillion, representing a 16.4% year-on-year increase and constituting for 56.9% of the total investment in the nation’s Free Economic Zones. Notably, IFEZ was the only zone nationwide to experience growth in the number of foreign-invested companies, highlighting robust global confidence in the competitiveness of companies based in IFEZ. An official from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA) stated, “Companies in IFEZ are delivering the nation’s highest performance and serving as the heart of the Korean economy,” reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to enhancing business-centric competitiveness.

ISSUE 2.Dominating the “CES 2026” Best of Innovation Awards,IFEZ Innovation Technologies in the Global Spotlight

CES 2026, the world’s largest IT exhibition, served as a global platform proclaiming that companies based in IFEZ have attained top-tier competitiveness. A record-breaking 50 Incheon companies participated this year, with 14 of these companies collectively sweeping 17 CES Innovation Awards, thereby achieving an unprecedented milestone. Notably, LBS Tech Co., Ltd. and Deep Fusion AI Co., Ltd. received the distinguished “Best of Innovation” award—an accolade conferred upon only 30 companies worldwide—further enhancing IFEZ’s reputation to the highest international standard. IFEZ companies also exhibited robust achievements in the domain of “Physical AI,” a prominent theme for this year. Innovative technologies, such as AI navigation systems designed for individuals with visual impairments and deep-learning solutions for autonomous driving, garnered global attention and admiration from investors while pioneering new industry standards. In addition to technological showcases, this year’s CES provided a platform for enterprises to forge global collaborations and establish tangible foundations for export activities. The event is widely recognized as a decisive milestone, propelling companies based in IFEZ further into the global market.