- 2014 Daegu International Optical Show (DIOPS) to open in April / Exhibition converges the optical industry, fashion and culture -
- The only optical show in Korea that brings professionals in the optical industry together once a year –
The 13th Daegu International Optical Show (DIOPS) will be held at EXCO (Daegu Exhibition & Convention Center) on April 16-18 this year. Some 210 optical companies will participate in the show (as in last year’s show). The total exhibition area will be 20,077㎡. The number of participants is expected to reach 17,000 this year, including some 800 foreign buyers. The 12th DIOPS in 2013 drew many buyers despite the unstable domestic security situation caused by North Korea at the time, which proved the status of the DIOPS as an international optical show. This year’s event is expected to draw as many buyers from diverse countries.
Hosted by the Daegu Metropolitan Government and organized by the Korea Optical Industry Support Center (KOISC), DIOPS has been held annually for 12 years, settling as an event representative of Daegu. The show is the only international optical exhibition in Korea.
The KOISC has been establishing diverse networks to make the show a global exhibition since it was designated as the organizer of DIOPS in 2006. Utilizing these networks, the center will make its utmost efforts to make Daegu the global center of the optical industry.
The DIOPS secretariat has been promoting DIOPS and has invited VIPs and big buyers from major exhibitions around the world. As a result, big buyers in the optical industry and heads of major optical organizations have been persuaded to attend DIOPS. Despite the global economic slump, the number of foreign buyers participating in DIOPS has increased, which testifies to the success of the show as a meaningful event that contributes to increased exports of Korean optical products and the development of the Korean optical industry
KOISC is planning a new DIOPS this year – to be much distinguished from past events - utilizing the know-how it has accumulated up to now. The show will feature abundant programs for visitors as well as those for buyers and participating companies. The glasses to be shown in the show will include not only those for vision correction but also fashion and design products.
The glasses industry of Daegu accounts for about 90 percent of the entire glasses industry of Korea and most of the products made in Daegu are exported. KOISC plans to exert more efforts to invite buyers from potential markets to DIOPS to further contribute to the growth of exports.
The center is operating a regular program to match buyers and export companies one to one. During the DIOPS period, it offers consulting services for buyers, including those from new markets, and manufacturing companies to help them find the partners they want. Various export support organizations in Daegu will operate a joint public relations office to give briefings on the government support policy for exports and preparations for FTAs, and provide on-site consultations on the difficulties facing individual companies.
An international optical conference will be held during DIOPS, which will integrate meetings related to optics that had been organized by different organizations up to last year, including the Korean Society of Vision Science and the Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society. Steven A. Loomis, vice president of the American Optometric Association, will present a keynote speech. Other speakers and presenters will include people from diverse fields, such as the head designer of Luxottica, a global eyeware maker, so as to educate eyeware manufacturers, opticians, academicians and students.
DIOPS also offers a variety of programs for visitors. Combing eyeware, fashion, design and beauty, the “Beauty Diops Change Hall” will show how a person’s image can change depending on their choice of eyeware, along with different makeup and hair styles. The “Optical Beauty Show” is a road show that will feature body painting and fantasy makeup themed according to eyeware. DIOPS will also offer caricature services for buyers and visitors. The winning works of the 14th Korean Glasses Design Contest will be on display, following last year. This year’s contest has a new “Products” category, for products designed specifically by eyeware manufacturers. The winning works in this category will be also on exhibit.
The DIOPS organizer is actively utilizing SNS channels to bring the show closer to people. It communicates with people around the world, in the optical industry, through its website, newsletters, and Facebook and Twitter channels to make DIOPS a global exhibition that serves as the center of the global optical industry.
