IBI - 2025 Korea show reveals growing interest in leisure marine
by Mike Derrett03 March 20254 min read
2025 Korea show reveals growing interest in leisure marine
The Korea International Boat Show closed on Sunday, revealing growing interest in marine leisure activities in a middle-class boating market with long-term potential.
The annual three-day Korea International Boat Show (KIBS), in its 18th edition, showed a positive and growing interest in marine leisure activities despite the backdrop of a slow economy across Asia and recent political issues in Korea. The industry is proving to be very resilient to factors that would normally disadvantage a young leisure marine market. A positive indicator was the visitor numbers at the show, which by Sunday night was 65,738 over the three days – a 5% increase on 2024.
KIBS combined with a fishing exhibition KOFISH. This was a strategic decision made by the organisers some years ago, based on the strong interest in sea fishing in Korea and the market for small boats used by anglers. This proved to be a good decision, as the two events under the same roof were well supported and provided synergy to one another.
Compared with other boat shows in Asia and the Middle East, KIBS is strongly focused on smaller-sized boats below 8m (the main market sector in South Korea) with over 40,000 boats registered and well over 300,000 boat driving licences issued.
KIBS this year had 180 boats on display compared to 150 in 2024. The general feeling from exhibitors indicates that interest from the consumer is high. Due to the economic situation, the market isn’t booming but it’s progressing at a steady pace and better than expected.
KIBS, along with the Shanghai Boat Show in China, are the largest boat shows in Asia and the Middle East that take place in a modern indoor venue designed for exhibitions.
“My team and I are thrilled with how the show has maintained growth with more visitors and exhibitor space increasing by 10%,” says Dr Chung Hwan Kim from the KIBS organising team. “We feel the market has now passed a tipping point and we are well established in the Asia boat show calendar. We are keen to attract more regional visitors and exhibitors in the future.”
A cross-section of exhibitors interviewed by IBI were supportive of the show. Chae Soonsuk, CEO of Star Boat, an importer of powerboat brands including Quicksilver and Karnic, said: “The show is larger this year with very good interest and there are good opportunities to develop boating on the Han River in Seoul.”
Cathy Chon, CEO of Bay Industrial, which manufactures inflatable and RIB boats with production of up to 5,000 units a year, told IBI: “We decided to develop a new range of boats manufactured from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which has considerable user benefits of strength and durability and can be recycled with low emission levels for manufacturing. We are targeting light commercial and military customers as well as leisure.”
Kim Chansoo, who runs Marine Land, one of the longest-established boat dealers in Korea, importing Mercury engines, Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Axopar boat brands, said: “The market is not easy right now, but we are long established in the market and are also introducing new products such as Fliteboard from Australia. For the future, there is a plan to develop more marinas on the Han River in Seoul in the next two years.”
There was a distinct emphasis on technology from local manufacturers at KIBS, Avikus being a very good example of a company reaching out globally with their autonomous boat driving technology which relies on AI. Other companies such as Bay Industrial are developing boats made of recyclable material such as HDPE, and Pharos is developing an electric outboard powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The leisure marine industry in Korea has grown considerably since the first Korea Marine Festival in 2008, which later developed into the Korea International Boat Show. It’s opened up the population of Korea to the world of recreation on the water across the spectrum, from using a paddle board or a canoe to a motor or sailing boat. This is all thanks to the support of the Federal and the Gyeonggi Province governments who supported the industry development since 2007. Gyeonggi Province is still the owner of KIBS.
The show included a one-day Industry Conference with speakers including IBI’s North America and technology correspondent Craig Ritchie and Mike Derrett, IBI’s Asia and Middle East correspondent.
The conference will be covered by another news story this week, together with a final round-up of the show results.
The annual three-day Korea International Boat Show (KIBS), in its 18th edition, showed a positive and growing interest in marine leisure activities despite the backdrop of a slow economy across Asia and recent political issues in Korea. The industry is proving to be very resilient to factors that would normally disadvantage a young leisure marine market. A positive indicator was the visitor numbers at the show, which by Sunday night was 65,738 over the three days – a 5% increase on 2024.
KIBS combined with a fishing exhibition KOFISH. This was a strategic decision made by the organisers some years ago, based on the strong interest in sea fishing in Korea and the market for small boats used by anglers. This proved to be a good decision, as the two events under the same roof were well supported and provided synergy to one another.
Compared with other boat shows in Asia and the Middle East, KIBS is strongly focused on smaller-sized boats below 8m (the main market sector in South Korea) with over 40,000 boats registered and well over 300,000 boat driving licences issued.
KIBS this year had 180 boats on display compared to 150 in 2024. The general feeling from exhibitors indicates that interest from the consumer is high. Due to the economic situation, the market isn’t booming but it’s progressing at a steady pace and better than expected.
KIBS, along with the Shanghai Boat Show in China, are the largest boat shows in Asia and the Middle East that take place in a modern indoor venue designed for exhibitions.
“My team and I are thrilled with how the show has maintained growth with more visitors and exhibitor space increasing by 10%,” says Dr Chung Hwan Kim from the KIBS organising team. “We feel the market has now passed a tipping point and we are well established in the Asia boat show calendar. We are keen to attract more regional visitors and exhibitors in the future.”
A cross-section of exhibitors interviewed by IBI were supportive of the show. Chae Soonsuk, CEO of Star Boat, an importer of powerboat brands including Quicksilver and Karnic, said: “The show is larger this year with very good interest and there are good opportunities to develop boating on the Han River in Seoul.”
Cathy Chon, CEO of Bay Industrial, which manufactures inflatable and RIB boats with production of up to 5,000 units a year, told IBI: “We decided to develop a new range of boats manufactured from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which has considerable user benefits of strength and durability and can be recycled with low emission levels for manufacturing. We are targeting light commercial and military customers as well as leisure.”
Kim Chansoo, who runs Marine Land, one of the longest-established boat dealers in Korea, importing Mercury engines, Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Axopar boat brands, said: “The market is not easy right now, but we are long established in the market and are also introducing new products such as Fliteboard from Australia. For the future, there is a plan to develop more marinas on the Han River in Seoul in the next two years.”
There was a distinct emphasis on technology from local manufacturers at KIBS, Avikus being a very good example of a company reaching out globally with their autonomous boat driving technology which relies on AI. Other companies such as Bay Industrial are developing boats made of recyclable material such as HDPE, and Pharos is developing an electric outboard powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The leisure marine industry in Korea has grown considerably since the first Korea Marine Festival in 2008, which later developed into the Korea International Boat Show. It’s opened up the population of Korea to the world of recreation on the water across the spectrum, from using a paddle board or a canoe to a motor or sailing boat. This is all thanks to the support of the Federal and the Gyeonggi Province governments who supported the industry development since 2007. Gyeonggi Province is still the owner of KIBS.
The show included a one-day Industry Conference with speakers including IBI’s North America and technology correspondent Craig Ritchie and Mike Derrett, IBI’s Asia and Middle East correspondent.
The conference will be covered by another news story this week, together with a final round-up of the show results.
