TS to Hold the 'Korea Tuning Car Festival' in Gimcheon on the 30th and 31st

[Financial News] An automobile festival featuring AI and autonomous-driving technologies, customized cars, off-road activities, and motorcycle experiences will be held in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province. This year's event has been revamped from its previous focus on internal-combustion engines to emphasize future mobility and family activities.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) said on the 2nd that it will hold the '2026 Korea Tuning Car Festival' from the 30th to the 31st at and around Gimcheon Sports Town, in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), North Gyeongsang Province, and Gimcheon-si.
Vehicle tuning refers to modifying a vehicle's structure or components, or adding attachments, in accordance with safety standards to alter its performance or appearance. The event was organized to promote a safe tuning culture and establish a foundation for the growth of the related industry.
This year, the event will be held downtown to improve accessibility for visitors, while exhibitions of future industries, including autonomous vehicles, will be expanded. Kakao Mobility and Autonomous A2Z (A2Z) will participate and showcase future mobility technologies.
The Korea Automobile Tuning Association, Korea Special-Purpose Vehicle Association, Korea Motorcycle Maintenance Association, and Korea Automobile Tuner Association will operate booths displaying customized cars.
The 'Imagination Project' creative exhibition, featuring more than 1,100 young people from 11 schools nationwide, will be held for the first time. Participants will share ideas and works related to the tuning industry.
The existing drift program has been scrapped and replaced with an off-road course featuring jumps over scrapped cars, international-level motorcycle stunts, and a gymkhana competition in which participants compete for the fastest time while avoiding obstacles.
The event site will comprise eight themed zones reflecting the '3F' strategy of future and family, fun, fairness, and safety. Activities will include off-road driving, motorcycle, drone, and RC car experiences; a 360-degree vehicle rollover-and-escape experience; firefighting and CPR training; and programs for children and families. A booth operated by Gimcheon-si's 'Remind Gimbap Festival' and food trucks will also be available.
The 'Media Crew,' made up of university students majoring in media and video-related fields in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, will cover the event through short-form videos, first-person-view broadcasts, and on-site interviews.
Yong-Sik Jung, chairman of TS, said, "The 2026 Korea Tuning Car Festival has been revamped to better meet the public's expectations, based on the experience of the past four years. We hope many people will take an interest in and visit this festival, which aims to achieve three goals: establishing a safe tuning culture, nurturing talent in future mobility, and revitalizing the local economy."
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter