By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

The 12th International e-Mobility Expo will be held at Jeju Shinhwa World for four days from April 8 next year. 

The International e-Mobility Expo announced on Aug. 26 that the 12th International e-Mobility Expo Organizing Committee held a launching ceremony at Sejong Law Firm's conference room to hold the event from April 8 to 11, 2025 at Jeju Shinhwa World.  

At the launching ceremony, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Oh Young-hoon was appointed as the honorary chairman of the event, Silicon Valley Chairman Ossama R. Hassanein was appointed as the honorary organizing committee chairman, and nine advisors were appointed, including former Vice Prime Minister Oh Myung, former chairman of the Green Growth Council Lee Seung-hoon, Chairman of Black Yak Kang Tae-sun, Chairman Choi Yeol of Environmental Foundation, Kim Soo-jong, former chief writer of Hankook Ilbo, former Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman Lee Hyun-soon, Representatives Wi Sung-gon, Moon Dae-rim, and Kim Han-kyu. 

The organizing committee also includes Lee Hee-beom, former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, as Executive Chairman; Moon Kook-hyun, Chairman of the Silicon Valley Investment Business Forum; Cho Hwan-ik, former President of KEPCO; Kim Il-hwan, President of the Council of Presidents of National Universities; Bang Seung-chan, President of the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute; Lee Tae-sik, President of the Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organization; and Yakobo Shamashi, former Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York, Edmund Araga, Chairman of the ASEAN EV ASSOCIATION NETWORK; Woong-Hee Son, President of the Korea Robotics Industry Promotion Agency; Jun-ho Lee, President-Elect of the Korea Electrotechnology Society; Goh Moon-hyun, President of the Korea ESG Society; Gil Hong-keun, Standing Chairman of the Korea Electric Ship Council; Kim Hee-hyun Kim, former Vice Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; and Kim Dae-hwan, President of the World e-Mobility Council as co-chairmen of the council.  

The global electric vehicle transition is an irresistible trend. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), global sales of electrification topped 13.88 million units last year. This figure includes both electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). That's 12.5 times the growth of 2017, six years ago. 

While the proliferation of eco-friendly EVs is already well established as a global trend, EV fires have created a new barrier for EV safety to overcome in Korea. However, beyond the issue of battery safety, the electrification of mobility is becoming a mainstream trend. 

The International e-Mobility Expo aims to establish itself as the 'Davos Forum of e-Mobility' by focusing on e-mobility, including electric vehicles, electric ships, and urban air mobility (UAM).  

The Expo aims to lead Korea as an e-mobility export promotion base as a sustainable global business expo through the regularization of the Silicon Valley Investment Forum. 

The forum will be held in conjunction with the event to proactively respond to global issues such as carbon neutrality and lead the transition to green energy. By creating a business platform for e-mobility such as electric vehicles, electric ships, and UAM, it will be developed into a huge industry based on advanced technologies such as digital, artificial intelligence (AI), and information technology (IT). 

The 12th International e-Mobility Expo in 2025 will host 50 global conferences with 50 sessions, including the Silicon Valley Investment Biz Forum, the 3rd International Green Shipping Expo, the World e-Mobility Consultative Assembly and Forum, the University Student EV Autonomous Driving Competition, the ASEAN-Korea EV Forum, the Korea-China-Japan EV Forum, the Global UAM Forum, the Korea-Africa Mobility Energy Forum, the Global Battery Forum, and the International EV Standards Forum. 

“We need to reduce vehicle emissions to solve the climate problem, and electric vehicles are becoming the mainstream,” said Choi Yeol, Chairman of the Environment Foundation. ”We hope that e-mobility will be the beginning of energy transition and overcoming the climate crisis.” 

“The entire nation's attention is focused on electric vehicle batteries and electric vehicle safety, and I think the expo can bring a new era of electricity,” said Gil Hong-geun, Chairman of the Korea Electric Shipbuilding Council. ”Let's dispel electric vehicle phobia and open a new chapter of mobility through battery safety.” 

“Everything that moves is mobility, including UAM, autonomous driving, and robots,” said Bang Seung-chan, President of the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, adding, ”The e-mobility encompasses electricity, electronics, and energy, so let's work together to move toward electrified autonomy."

Chairman Moon Kook-hyun said, “It's like people who have been wandering for 11 years have found a home. We have attracted global attention, but domestically we have been criticized for not being able to do more than one company, but now the water is coming in and the ship is ready to leave.” 

‘In order for Carbon Free Island Jeju to lead the world beyond being a testbed for e-mobility, let's not just look to the U.S. and China, but attract promising companies from India to set up an Indian pavilion and make efforts to engage university students and startups,’ said Moon. 

“For the 12th Expo, we will change the venue to Jeju Shinhwa World for selection and focus, and lead Korea as an e-mobility export promotion base from EVs, UAMs, electric ships, and farm machinery electrification,” said Lee Hee-beom, Standing Committee Chairman. ”We will also switch to EXPO, a global business networking platform with more than 10,000 people from over 50 countries. We will promote energy transition and digital transformation in carbon-neutral Jeju 2035.”