AI meets history at Gyeongju's landmark World Heritage Industry Expo

The 2026 World Heritage Industry Expo opens Thursday in Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, marking its 10th anniversary as the largest to date with 133 companies, research institutions and organizations. The event showcases how artificial intelligence, extended reality and immersive media can revitalize the heritage sector, with a core focus on AI and XR integration in historical reconstruction, digital storytelling and global outreach.

Ancient history meets cutting-edge innovation this week as Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom 57 B.C.–935 A.D. , transforms into a testing ground for the future of cultural preservation. The 2026 World Heritage Industry Expo opens its doors Thursday, offering a glimpse into how artificial intelligence, extended reality and immersive media can revitalize the nation’s heritage sector. Marking its 10th anniversary, this year’s milestone event stands as the largest to date, uniting 133 companies, research institutions and organizations. The expansion reflects a broader national push to bridge historical conservation with high-tech industries, turning legacy into a forward-looking economic engine. Across the venue, dynamic exhibitions will span advanced restoration tech, digital archive tools, consumer products and interactive public installations. The core focus of the 2026 program lies in the integration of AI and extended reality, tools increasingly used in historical reconstruction, digital storytelling and global outreach. On Friday at 2 p.m., Suwen Wang, a special