Ahead of the 2026 CES, the world's largest exhibition of consumer electronics and information and communications technology held every year in Las Vegas, Korean companies have won 60% of the event's Innovation Awards. Shown is a screenshot from the trade show's official website announcing this year's honorees. (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)

By Jeon Misun

Domestic companies have claimed 60% of the Innovation Awards at this year's CES, the world's largest consumer electronics and information and communications technology exhibition opening next month in Las Vegas, extending Korea's streak as the country with the most such honors for the third consecutive year.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on Nov. 30 said a record-high 168 of the 284 winning companies as announced by the Consumer Technology Association were Korean.

The CES Innovation Awards recognize new innovative products and services each year selected through a comprehensive evaluation of technical prowess, design and innovation. Winning the award is considered global acknowledgment of technological prowess.

The honors this year cover 36 categories including artificial intelligence, robotics and digital health, with 3,600 entries submitted this year.

Korean companies won 222 Innovation Awards for 204 products for a 60% share, meaning Korea stayed No. 1 for the third consecutive year as such companies swept all three top honors in physical AI and AI agents, key themes of the latest CES.

Such companies won the most awards in AI with 28, followed by digital health with 24 and sustainability and energy transition 14.

"Korea's awards in AI, a field that is shaking up the global technological landscape, hold great significance and opportunity," KOTRA said in a statement. "We will do everything to support these efforts as a stepping stone for Korea to become one of the world's top three AI powers."

msjeon22@korea.kr