Korea’s ITS Sector Sets Sights on Global Road Market, Joins Forces with International Road Federation

[Financial News] The international cooperation network supporting domestic intelligent transport systems (ITS) companies’ expansion into overseas markets is extending into the global road transport sector. The Korea Intelligent Transport Systems Association (ITS Korea) is joining forces with the International Road Federation (IRF) to identify joint initiatives, from technical and policy cooperation to support for companies’ exports. It plans to step up its push into global markets, including by showcasing Korean ITS technology in Geneva, Switzerland, next month.
ITS Korea said it signed an MOU with the IRF on cooperation in ITS and road transport at the 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress, held at the Gangneung Convention Center on the 22nd. Heo Cheong-hoe, chairman of ITS Korea, and Gonzalo Alcaraz, the IRF’s secretary general, attended the signing ceremony and signed the agreement.
The IRF is an international membership organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, that has been active since 1948. It connects governments and the road transport industry around the world and supports policy and technology exchanges and professional capacity-building to help develop safe, environmentally friendly road systems.
The agreement puts into concrete form cooperation measures discussed by the two organizations at 2026 Intertraffic, held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, last March. At the time, they discussed signing an MOU and jointly exhibiting and promoting their work at international events. Building on those discussions, they supported the IRF’s participation as an exhibitor at the Gangneung ITS World Congress.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will expand networks among their member companies and stakeholders and support export cooperation for Korean ITS companies. They will also strengthen cooperation on technology, policy, and research and development in the ITS and road transport sectors, and identify joint projects.
They will pursue joint programs such as international conferences, seminars, workshops, and technical visits, while also working on an international awards program and identifying joint projects. The aim is to create practical opportunities for overseas expansion by broadening technology exchanges and business cooperation among member companies.
In particular, they plan to set up a Korean pavilion at the IRF 2026 Annual Meeting, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 16 to 18, to showcase Korea’s ITS technology and the competitiveness of its industry. They will leverage the IRF’s global road transport network to build connections between relevant organizations overseas and Korean companies, and support the development of new business opportunities.
“It is meaningful that ITS Korea is working with the IRF, which has a global road transport network,” said Heo Cheong-hoe, chairman of ITS Korea. “We will expand policy and technology exchanges and joint research between our organizations, as well as business cooperation among our member companies, and create new opportunities to enter overseas markets by leveraging our global network,” he said.

[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter