The World Hydrogen Expo 2025 (WHE 2025), the largest integrated hydrogen industry event ever held in Korea, successfully concluded on Sunday, 7 December, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Running from 4–7 December, the event marked a major milestone as it debuted a unified format that combined the former Hydrogen International Conference and the H2 MEET Exhibition for the first time.
This year’s edition drew international organizations, government bodies, research institutions, and leading companies from 26 countries, totaling 279 participating organizations, reinforcing Korea’s growing influence in the global hydrogen economy. More than 400 dignitaries and industry leaders attended the opening ceremony, reflecting the sector’s sustained international interest despite global market adjustments.
By merging conference and exhibition components, WHE 2025 established a comprehensive platform for both knowledge exchange and business development.
The international conference (4–5 December) featured three specialized tracks:
- Leadership & Market Insight: Policy directions and industry outlooks of major hydrogen economies
- Hydrogen Deep Dive: Strategies, technical insights, and innovations from global experts and corporations
- Country Day: Case studies highlighting hydrogen sector advancements from three participating nations
Meanwhile, the international exhibition (4–7 December) spanned 22,000 square meters, showcasing the full hydrogen value chain—from production and storage to transportation and utilization. Companies such as Hyundai Motor Group, Kolon Industries, 3M, and HD Hyundai Infracore displayed cutting-edge technologies, attracting strong interest from investors and industry professionals.
Opening Ceremony Highlights: Calls for Global Cooperation and Long-Term Investment
During the opening ceremony, Jae-hong Kim, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee and President of the Korea Hydrogen Alliance, underscored the importance of sustained investment despite global uncertainties. “We have created practical business opportunities to encourage continuous interest and investment in the hydrogen industry,” he said. “We will develop World Hydrogen Expo into a global hydrogen cooperation platform.”
Nam-hoon Kang, Co-Chair and President of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, highlighted the event’s growth trajectory since its beginnings as H2 MEET in 2020. “This event now stands as a firmly established global hydrogen industry platform,” he noted, emphasizing the significant participation of leading domestic and global companies.
From the legislative arena, National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum Co-Chair Jong-bae Lee emphasized the Expo’s role in inspiring global unity in hydrogen innovation. “WHE 2025 delivers a message encouraging hydrogen leaders to move forward more quickly through innovation. The National Assembly will continue to provide full legislative and policy support.”
His fellow Co-Chair, Tae-ho Jeong, addressed ongoing challenges such as expanding clean hydrogen production, activating the CHPS, enhancing infrastructure, and strengthening the utilization market. “We are concerned about uncertainties and reduced investment slowing momentum,” he remarked. “We will work to reflect industry needs in policy and support strengthening hydrogen industry competitiveness.”
The opening program also included a keynote address by Laurent Antini, Chair of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), followed by an exhibition hall tour by distinguished guests.
A Four-Day Hub for Technology Exchange and Business Collaboration
Throughout the event period, international delegations, industry leaders, and technology developers engaged in meetings, demonstrations, and networking sessions. Exhibitors leveraged the platform to form partnerships, explore business opportunities, and introduce next-generation hydrogen solutions.
With its expanded scale and newly unified format, WHE 2025 delivered on its objective of reinforcing Korea’s position as a key driver in global hydrogen cooperation.
Detailed conference and exhibition information remains accessible on the official WHE website:
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