Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the US: "Institutional Improvements for Autonomous Vehicle Commercialization"

Examining Technology and Operational Strategies at CES 2026 and Waymo

On January 8 (local time), Yoonduk Kim, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited Waymo, an autonomous driving company in San Francisco, USA, where he was briefed on service operations and related matters. He then rode in a fully driverless robotaxi operating in the city to directly examine the level of technology and the safety management system. Waymo is considered one of the leading companies in autonomous driving technology and driving data, alongside Tesla in the United States and Baidu in China.

Earlier, on January 6, Minister Kim attended CES 2026, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, where he visited the K-Startup Integrated Pavilion, organized as a comprehensive exhibition space for domestic early-stage companies, as well as the KOTRA Integrated Korea Pavilion. He reviewed technological achievements applicable to the land and transport sector, such as autonomous driving, AI-based safety inspections, and digital twins.

Yoonduk Kim, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (second from right), is speaking on the 8th (local time) during a visit to Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company in San Francisco, USA. Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The following day, he explored the core technologies of global companies such as Amazon and Qualcomm, as well as domestic firms like Hyundai Motor and Samsung Electronics. He reportedly requested cooperation from companies with world-leading technologies. He also held a meeting with local small and medium-sized enterprises and startups participating in the event to discuss support measures for overseas expansion and technology development.

Minister Kim stated, "I agree with the opinion that there is a need for small-scale R&D projects in which small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in the land and transport sector can participate." He added, "Currently, the proportion of large-scale R&D projects is high, which limits the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, so we will establish new programs that can provide practical support for them." He continued, "We will ensure that feedback from companies on the ground is actively reflected in the planning and design process of these programs."

Kim Yoonduk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is visiting the Integrated Korea Pavilion at CES 2026, which opened on the 6th (local time), and examining the exhibited products. Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

He also met with Korean students studying abroad in the area to share the status of international joint research in the land and transport sector and discuss support measures for overseas researchers and students. In addition, he visited San Francisco Airport to inspect the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) installed at the runway end. He shared technical updates with the Federal Aviation Administration and San Francisco Airport.

Minister Kim said, "Based on next-generation technology trends, we will explore ways for the land and transport industry to effectively respond to technological changes and promote support projects for young researchers to attract outstanding overseas talent. I will also actively reflect the experience gained from visiting autonomous driving companies in improving systems for operating domestic autonomous driving pilot cities and commercializing autonomous vehicles."