Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Elecs Vietnam 2025 kicks off with fanfare
Koo Ja-kyun, center, chairman at the Korea Electrical Manufacturers Association, poses with ranking Vietnamese officials at an LS Electric booth during Elecs Vietnam 2025 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
Korean electric equipment makers seek deeper energy ties with ASEAN region
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The Elecs Vietnam 2025 exhibition kicked off Wednesday with a group of Korea’s top-tier electric equipment makers in attendance to make deeper inroads into not just Vietnam, but the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
The event runs for three days in Ho Chi Minh City, the southern commercial hub of Vietnam. Koo Ja-kyun, chairman of the Korea Electrical Manufacturers Association (KOEMA), delivered an opening speech and underscored the ever-growing strategic energy partnership between Korea and Vietnam.
“The power industry is now entering a new era of what we call an ‘ultra-super-cycle’ — marked by the expansion of carbon-free power generation, the proliferation of data centers and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies,” Koo said. He also serves as CEO and chairman for LS Electric, one of Korea’s leading electric equipment manufacturers.
“The active participation in the industry from both the Vietnamese government and private sectors is highly appreciated,” Koo said. “We expect the exhibition to become a catalyst for even broader strategic cooperation in energy between the two countries.”
A group of Korea’s major electric and energy industry players — including LS Electric, HD Hyundai Electric and Hyosung Heavy Industries — joined this year’s event to showcase their future solutions and discuss more partnerships with the Vietnamese government and local firms.
High-ranking Vietnamese officials from the government and state-run companies also took part in the electricity fair. They include Nguyen Van Duoc, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; and Nguyen Ahn Tuan, president of Vietnam Electricity.
Participants at Elecs Vietnam 2025 visit LS Electric's booth at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
Korea and Vietnam established formal diplomatic relations in 1992 and have since broadened the alliance to include trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
The bilateral partnership, particularly in the electricity infrastructure sector, is expanding at an astonishing pace, driven by Vietnam’s increasing geopolitical significance due to its dynamic industrial growth.
In response, LS Electric and other Korean electric solutions providers have identified the country as a major hub for their expansion into the ASEAN region, which is emerging as the next major revenue market amid a rapid influx of global IT firms, due to its manufacturing facilities and data centers.
LS Electric set up the largest booth among fair participants, measuring 144 square meters. The company used that space to promote its smart energy management solutions and power distribution equipment in a move to win more orders from Vietnamese clients.
Koo pinned hopes for Elecs Vietnam 2025 to become a major venue to help boost the two countries’ bilateral partnership in future energy and electric solutions.
“Against this backdrop, Korea and Vietnam should play an important role for their own sides, so they can construct a new order for joint growth in future energy,” Koo said.
“At Elecs Vietnam 2025, Korean participants will showcase their advanced power transmission and digital power solutions, so they can capture more opportunities for growth in Vietnam by taking advantage of the country’s strong growth potential and increasing industrial demand.”