Third Achievement Following Seoul (1998) and Busan (2010)
Gangwon-do Acts as a Bridge Between Government and Host Cities... Administrative and Financial Support
Gangneung City has successfully secured the hosting of the ITS World Congress. (Photo left) Kim Hong-gyu, Mayor of Gangneung City [Gangneung City] Photo by Gangneung City
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangneung City in Gangwon Province has succeeded in hosting the ITS World Congress, known as the Traffic Olympics.
Gangneung City announced on the 18th that "The 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress Hosting Committee was selected as the host country for the 32nd World Congress, beating competitor Taiwan during the final proposal presentation held at 9 a.m. local time on September 17 at the LA Convention Center in the United States (1 a.m. Korean time on the 18th)."
'ITS (Intelligent Transport System)' is an intelligent transportation system that efficiently manages traffic information through advanced transportation technology and improves traffic efficiency and safety through scientific and automated operations.
The ITS World Congress, called the Traffic Olympics, began in 1994 in Paris, France, and is the world's largest exhibition and academic conference in the field of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), held annually rotating through Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
South Korea has achieved the honor of hosting for the third time, following the 5th Congress in Seoul (1998) and the 17th Congress in Busan (2010).
With this successful bid by Gangneung, South Korea now stands shoulder to shoulder with Japan (which has hosted three times) among the 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 32nd ITS World Congress is expected to have participation from a total of 100 countries. The hosting committee plans to organize various academic sessions, exhibitions, demonstrations and inspections of the latest technologies, and business meetings involving experts and entrepreneurs, with an anticipated total attendance of about 60,000 people.
It is also expected to have practical effects such as promoting world-class Korean ITS technology, expanding international recognition, supporting overseas expansion of Korean companies through a platform for international cooperation in advanced transportation technology.
Gangneung anticipates an economic ripple effect of 372.9 billion KRW and employment inducement of 2,033 jobs through large-scale foreign visitor inflow, revitalization of the local economy, strengthening of international branding, activation of the local IT industry, and job creation.
Kim Hong-gyu, Mayor of Gangneung, said, "We completed the largest-scale ITS infrastructure project as a single project and made every effort to promote Gangneung to overseas ITS member countries through cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies." He added, "By successfully hosting the ITS World Congress, we will lay the foundation for the Korean Wave in transportation and grow into a smart tourism city throughout all four seasons, a maritime Silk Road port city, and a Eurasian railway hub city."
Meanwhile, Gangwon Province has supported Gangneung’s bid since the domestic city selection stage of the congress (February 2020), promising to utilize Olympic facilities to complement convention functions.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the competent ministry, and the hosting committee participated in direct and indirect hosting activities and supported the national ITS project with provincial funds (2 years, 2.4 billion KRW), assisting preparations for hosting the World Congress.
Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, stated, "We will serve as a bridge between the government and the host city to help Gangneung become an international MICE city based on advanced transportation systems, and seek administrative and financial support measures for a successful event."
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