Seoul Classic Car Show 2026 to open at Coex in October, seeks first-gen Grandeur owners

The Korea Classic Car Association (KCCA) and Coex announced Monday that the Seoul Classic Car Show 2026 will run for three days from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Coex Plaza in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The event will be held under the theme "Searching for Hidden Gem Classic Cars," featuring programs designed to spotlight the value of privately owned classic vehicles and automotive cultural heritage.

This year, organizers will run a "First-Generation Grandeur Search Project" to mark the 40th anniversary of Hyundai Motor Co.'s first-generation Grandeur. Launched in 1986, the model is widely regarded as an icon of Korea's automotive industry during its formative years. It also cemented its place in popular culture after appearing in "Sandglass," a hit drama series of the 1990s.

Among vehicles submitted for consideration, selected models will receive a KCCA certification card and be offered the opportunity to appear in the show's exhibition and its classic car auction.

A "My Classic Car Participation Program" open to privately owned classics will also be held. Any owner of a vehicle at least 30 years old — regardless of brand or country of origin — may apply. Vehicles that pass a screening process will be featured in the exhibition and entered in the auction.

This year's show will also host Korea's first public classic car auction. Overseas, classic car auctions have established themselves alongside fine art sales as a leading market for cultural asset transactions, with vehicles assessed on rarity, historical significance, condition and provenance. The asset class has also drawn growing attention as an investment vehicle.

A forum on the future direction of classic car culture in Korea will also take place during the event. The Korea Automotive Journalists Association (KAJA) will participate as a partner organization, hosting expert discussions on topics including how to promote classic car culture and improve the regulatory regime.

Coex, which marks its own 40th anniversary this year, plans to develop the Seoul Classic Car Show into an automotive cultural festival that balances broad public appeal with specialist depth by combining the exhibition, cultural programming and auction components.

The Seoul Classic Car Show 2026 is co-hosted by the KCCA and Coex, with Auto Car Korea serving as the organizing body.

"This year's Seoul Classic Car Show will be a festival where people can discover the hidden value of classic cars and enjoy them together in an open plaza," KCCA President Jeong Jae-shin said. "We particularly hope to see strong interest and participation centered on the first-generation Grandeur, a vehicle that symbolizes an era in Korea's automotive history."