Korea’s Rehabilitation Industry Embraces Smart Technology for Aging Society
Korea’s disability and rehabilitation industry is experiencing remarkable growth, driven by rapid population aging and technological innovation. The transformation was clearly demonstrated at the Reha·Homecare 2025 exhibition held at COEX from May 29-31, 2025.
The three-day event, themed “Healthy Life, Happy Life,” attracted 214 companies and 9,475 visitors, generating impressive business results including 5.6 billion won in consultation achievements from Seongnam City’s joint pavilion alone.
Organized by the Korea Bio Cluster Federation and WeExpo, this exhibition showcased a comprehensive range of products from home medical devices and mobility aids to cutting-edge AI-powered rehabilitation robots.
Korea’s demographic shift is creating unprecedented demand for rehabilitation services. With the elderly population expected to reach 20.6% by 2025 and 40% by 2050, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. The domestic assistive device market has already reached 1.7 trillion won as of 2019, growing at an annual rate of 7%.
Technology integration is revolutionizing the sector. Companies like Neofect have successfully exported AI-based rehabilitation platforms to 21 countries, including the prestigious Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Meanwhile, Angel Robotics showcased lightweight wearable robots for lower limb rehabilitation, featuring AI-driven personalization and potential rental models to improve accessibility.
The exhibition highlighted emerging trends including fall detection systems, care robots, and smart protective devices. These innovations represent a shift toward “smart welfare,” where technology enables independent living for elderly and disabled individuals while reducing caregiving burdens.
Government support is accelerating industry growth through expanded rehabilitation medical institutions, customized reimbursement systems, and ambitious R&D investment plans totaling 10 trillion won over five years. The administration aims to double medical device exports to $16 billion by 2027, positioning Korea as a global rehabilitation technology leader.
The global rehabilitation market is projected to reach $52.8 billion by 2033, with remote rehabilitation services growing at 13.2% annually through 2030. Korea’s strong IT infrastructure and AI capabilities position domestic companies well to capture this expanding international market.
As Korea transitions into a super-aged society, the rehabilitation industry stands poised to become a key economic driver while improving quality of life for millions of citizens.
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