South Korea, often cited for having one of the best public transportation systems in the world by multiple organizations including Travel + Leisure and the William-Russell Global Transport Index, will host the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) World Congress in the city of Gangneung from October 19 to 23, 2026.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the 32nd ITS World Congress in 2026 will be attended by around 60,000 participants from 100 countries, is expected to boost the local economy by $287 million, and generate 2,033 jobs.
MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo expressed his full support: “The 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress, held under the theme of ‘Beyond Mobility, Connected World’, will be a place to experience new ITS solutions, visit diverse project sites, and enjoy Korea’s traditional and modern culture as well as the city’s charms.”
According to the minister, MOLIT and Gangneung will spare no effort in making the ITS World Congress a success as it will highlight the city as a global tourism destination based on its advanced transport system, which will thrust Korea’s ITS industry as a global player.
As of December, MOLIT and the municipal governments of Gangneung and Gangwon have spent $25 million over the past two years to improve the city’s overall transport system and infrastructure.
MOLIT noted that other government officials and business leaders are fully supportive of the improvements to the city’s transport infrastructure, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea Expressway Corp., ITS Korea, Hyundai Motor, SK, KT, and LG.
Held every year, the ITS World Congress is the largest international exhibition and academic conference in the transport community. Seoul and Busan hosted the event in 1998 and 2010 respectively.
"Gangneung has the capability of holding large global events, a strength highlighted by its rich tourism resources. The event will elevate the standing not only of the city but also of the country on the global stage,” said the minister, who stresses that the city has a seamless global logistics and transport network and will be a go-to city for the global MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector.
The ministry adds that the event will serve as a platform for international partnerships in advanced transport and give South Korea a valuable opportunity to promote its world-class ITS technologies, while helping more South Korean companies to venture overseas.
For more information, visit https://intl.its.go.kr/26ITSWC/en.
