Government representatives from 10 member economies to gather at Westin Chosun Seoul for three-day event
The 2026 APEC Smart Mobility Forum will open Wednesday at the Westin Chosun Seoul and run through Nov. 3, as public interest in autonomous driving continues to grow.
The forum will bring together government representatives from 10 APEC member economies alongside domestic and international experts and industry figures to share smart mobility policies, operational case studies and technology trends, and to discuss future directions for cooperation.
This year's forum builds on the "APEC Smart Mobility Recommendations" adopted at the inaugural forum, which South Korea led last year, with discussions spanning policy, operations and technology aimed at sustaining and advancing smart mobility cooperation within APEC. The recommendations outline 10 directions for expanding smart mobility, covering integration, connectivity, innovation, prosperity and a human-centered approach.
At the forum, Hwang Ki-yeon, a visiting professor at KAIST and former head of the Korea Transport Institute, will address safety, liability and other challenges posed by the era of full autonomous driving and the need for new operational frameworks. Mike Brown, chair of ISO/TC 204, will present a vision for "cognitive mobility" — a convergence of AI, intelligent infrastructure, connected vehicles and international standards.
Technology sessions will tackle key challenges for future transportation, including AI, autonomous driving and digital infrastructure, sustainable and people-centered mobility, and safety management for self-driving cars.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-seon said, "As AI and autonomous driving technology advance rapidly, it is important to organically link policy, operations and technology and to realize safe, convenient, people-centered mobility." She added, "We will continue to share our experiences in smart mobility with APEC member economies and pursue substantive cooperation."
Meanwhile, public attention to autonomous driving has been heightened following Wednesday's national audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, during which lawmakers repeatedly questioned the government on its verification procedures and plans regarding Tesla's Full Self-Driving system in South Korea.
smh@heraldcorp.com
