‘Traffic Olympics’ to be held in Gangneung... AI, autonomous driving and future transportation in one place
- Input
- 2026-10-18 11:00:00
- Updated
- 2026-10-18 11:00:00
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said on the 18th that it will host the 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress with Gangneung City at Gangneung Olympic Park from the 19th to the 23rd. This will be the third time the ITS World Congress has been held in Korea, following Seoul in 1998 and Busan in 2010.
The ITS World Congress is an international conference where governments, businesses, academia and research institutes from around the world share relevant policies, research findings and the latest technologies. First held in Paris, France, in 1994, it has since been held annually, rotating among Europe, the Americas and Asia, and is also known as the ‘Traffic Olympics.’
This year’s congress, under the theme ‘A World United Beyond Mobility,’ will feature 193 academic sessions, 428 exhibition booths, and programs for technology demonstrations and site visits. Discussions will focus on ways to integrate autonomous driving and digital infrastructure into existing transportation systems, with AI-based ITS at the center.
A support program to expand overseas markets for domestic companies will also be offered. The Export Plus Support Team, together with seven organizations including KOTRA, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, the Korea International Trade Association and the Export-Import Bank of Korea, will introduce export assistance and export financing programs to ITS and local companies.
MOLIT Minister Hong Ji-seon will chair a meeting attended by ministers and vice ministers from countries including Germany, Singapore and the United States, as well as senior officials from international organizations. The meeting will discuss ways to advance policy under the theme ‘Future Transportation Innovation through AI-Based ITS’ and is expected to adopt key messages outlining the direction of future international cooperation. Ha Jung-woo, vice chair of the National AI Strategy Committee, will deliver a keynote address on the changes in transportation that the convergence of AI and ITS will bring.
Minister Hong and MOLIT Second Vice Minister Jeong Ui-gyeong will also hold bilateral meetings with officials from Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Ireland, as well as officials from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Key agenda items include exchanges on technology and policy, demonstrations and joint research in ITS and future mobility.
Experiential and cultural events for residents and visitors will also be held. The congress will showcase ITS technologies used in everyday life, such as smart transit centers, AI parking guidance and license plate recognition. It will also run a ‘Youth Fellowship’ for university students, including graduate students, and an ITS ideas competition.
At 8 p.m. on the opening day, the 19th, a light show featuring 3,500 drones will take place in front of the Gangneung Convention Center. At 7 p.m. on the 22nd, an ITS ice show featuring figure skater Cha Jun-hwan and others will be held at the Hockey Center, and at 6 p.m. on the 23rd, a K-music concert will bring the congress to a close. During the event, a public zone featuring local festivals, a community market, an ITS experience area and food trucks will be set up in the outdoor plaza in front of the Hockey Center.
Minister Hong said, “Using the 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress as an opportunity, we will showcase to the world the ITS policy and technological capabilities our country has built up, expand cooperation among countries, and actively support domestic companies’ expansion overseas and the creation of new business opportunities.”
[email protected] Ga-young Choi Reporter