High-tech experiences, robot sports and a local goods fair bring together technology, culture, travel and the local economy
Performances, a small-business market and a full slate of side events round out the program
The ITS World Congress is a festival.
The grounds of Gangneung Olympic Park, where the congress is being held, overflow with things to do, watch, buy and enjoy — from high-tech experiences and robot sports to live performances and a community market.
These side events go beyond the congress's core program of academic conferences and advanced transportation technology exhibitions, giving any member of the public a chance to try cutting-edge technology firsthand and take in local culture and the arts.
No previous host country or city in the congress's history has staged the event in this kind of festival format for both domestic and international visitors.
On Monday, the opening day, a performance by the grand-prize winner of the Gangneung National Busking Competition and a live radio broadcast featuring singer Jeong In kicked off the program. Cultural and arts events — busking performances, traditional Korean music and youth performances — continue through the closing day on Friday.
Hands-on technology programs are also available at the venue, letting visitors experience AI-controlled self-driving cars, smart car assembly, metaverse-based smart city design, robot sports and drone simulators.
Children and teenagers are getting hands-on with future mobility technology they rarely encounter in everyday life, stoking their interest in advanced science and engineering.
Specialized technology exhibitions have been expanded into participatory programs accessible to the general public, making the congress's significance easier and more approachable for ordinary visitors to grasp.
A community market run in partnership with local small businesses — the Gangneung Local Goods Fair — has become another major draw for visitors.
Visitors browse and buy products that capture the character of Gangneung while sampling local food and culture. The fair is also expected to help small-business owners reach new customers and boost the local economy, particularly by introducing Gangneung's distinctive products to congress participants from around the world.
The venue features a wide range of attractions: product exhibitions and sales from Gangneung biotech companies, cultural arts and traditional culture experiences, a Gangneung city promotional pavilion, local food stalls and food trucks.
Beyond Olympic Park, Gangneung offers plenty more to explore — Gyeongpo Beach, Anmok Coffee Street, Ojukheon, Gyeonggyojang, Chodang Tofu Street, Wolhwa Street and Jungang Market, among other destinations.
Im Sin-hyeok, head of the ITS Promotion Division, said the congress was designed to be more than a forum for industry leaders. "We prepared this ITS World Congress not just as a venue for leaders to debate, but as a festival that citizens and tourists from home and abroad can all enjoy together," he said. "For the rest of the event, we will use the diverse performances and hands-on programs to showcase Gangneung's unique appeal to the world and inject new energy into the local economy."
abc@heraldcorp.com
