Ties Across Road Networks in All 50 U.S. States Broaden K-ITS’s Path into the U.S. Market

[Financial News] The foundation for cooperation to help South Korean intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology enter the U.S. market is expanding. The Korea Intelligent Transport Systems Association (ITS Korea) is joining forces with an organization representing road and transport authorities in all 50 U.S. states to pursue technological cooperation in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications and digital road infrastructure. It aims to lay the groundwork for South Korean ITS companies to enter the U.S. market by sharing everything from road construction and operations experience to technical standards and performance evaluation information.
ITS Korea announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on the 22nd at the Gangneung Convention Center to cooperate in V2X and digital road infrastructure. ITS Korea Chair Heo Cheong-hoe and AASHTO President Russell McMurry attended the signing ceremony and signed the agreement.
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing the road and transportation departments of all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It supports the transportation departments (DOTs) of each U.S. state and establishes road design and construction standards. The agreement is significant in that it establishes a direct basis for engagement with U.S. state transportation authorities, which are responsible for building and operating road infrastructure and introducing new technologies.
Taking the opportunity of the Gangneung ITS World Congress, the two organizations held their first official cooperation meeting and discussed policy and technology trends in key ITS fields, including V2X and digital road infrastructure, as well as future cooperation plans. In particular, they shared experience in building and operating ITS in the two countries and exchanged views on regular engagement and identifying follow-up cooperation projects.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will share policy and industry trends in new technologies related to V2X and digital infrastructure, as well as information on standardization, testing, and performance evaluation. They will expand member companies’ and experts’ participation in international events, training, and technical exchanges, and exchange best practices among relevant road and transport agencies in South Korea and the U.S.
In particular, they plan to continue technical and policy exchanges through regular bilateral cooperation meetings and identify specific projects for cooperation between local governments and road-related agencies in the two countries. Through this, they aim to introduce South Korean ITS technology and business experience in the U.S. and expand opportunities for future technology cooperation and entry into overseas markets.
ITS Korea Chair Heo Cheong-hoe said, “The agreement with AASHTO, which represents U.S. state road and transport authorities, is a meaningful starting point for expanding cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. in V2X and digital road infrastructure,” adding, “We will share the two countries’ policies, technologies, and experience in building and operating roads, and broaden opportunities for South Korean ITS companies to engage with the U.S. market.”
He stressed, “Through regular exchanges and the identification of practical cooperation projects, we will work to ensure that this agreement serves as a stepping stone supporting the entry of South Korean ITS technologies and standards into the U.S. market.”

[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter