The ITS World Congress in Gangneung closed Friday night after showcasing South Korea's advanced transportation technology and the city's credentials as a smart-mobility hub to delegates from 90 countries, while giving South Korea a window into global technology trends.
Unlike previous host cities, Gangneung transformed the event into a festival that drew participants of all ages and backgrounds from both East and West, earning widespread praise from domestic and foreign visitors alike.
Delegates from around the world called it the best ITS World Congress ever held, citing the rare blend of high-level technical sessions and hands-on science and culture programs open to the general public.
At Friday's closing ceremony, senior officials and congress representatives gathered to report on the event's achievements, celebrate its success and take part in a handover ceremony in which the symbolic "ITS Globe" was presented to the next host city.
An awards ceremony honoring outstanding research papers was also held, with Gangneung Mayor Kim Jung-nam presenting the prizes in person.
Foreign delegates said they were deeply impressed by how organizers had used the Olympic Park venues and expansive outdoor plazas to create an "ITS Park," dramatically expanding the event's reach beyond the convention floor. "We are grateful to the Gangneung congress for setting a new benchmark — one that moves beyond an academic gathering for specialists and inspires people of all ages to take an interest in future mobility," they said. They added that future world congresses would draw on Gangneung's successful model to deliver even richer programs.
Mayor Kim said the congress had been a historic turning point in which Gangneung demonstrated a world-class model for mid-sized cities seeking to advance intelligent transportation beyond the large-metropolis approach. "We will continue to develop the ITS infrastructure, autonomous driving test roads and AI-based traffic management systems built through this congress, and press ahead with making Gangneung a smart-mobility city where all residents can travel safely and conveniently," he said.
Following the official closing ceremony, a K-music concert celebrating the congress's success kicked off at 6 p.m. in the outdoor plaza in front of the hockey center at Gangneung Olympic Park. The concert brought together foreign participants, Gangneung residents and other attendees in a shared celebration of K-pop and live music, providing a festive finale to what organizers called a transportation olympics.
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