Autonomous Vehicle Standardization Forum General Assembly and Conference Held
Identifying Korean autonomous technologies to be candidates for international standards


On the 26th, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the 'Autonomous Vehicle Standardization Forum General Assembly and International Conference' at the Grand Ballroom of the Imperial Palace Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, with the attendance of over 200 domestic and international experts in autonomous vehicle technology and international standards.

In 2019, the forum supported 23 experts from six divisions to attend the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) meetings, fostering them as international standards experts. It also strengthened its capacity for international standardization activities for autonomous vehicles through information sharing among experts by holding 26 division meetings.

At this forum general meeting, domestic R&D achievements were shared to implement the standards of the 'Future Car Industry Development Strategy (October 15)' established by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In addition, we identified and discussed candidate projects for international standards that could become global standards.

In the keynote speech at the forum's general assembly, Hyundai Motor presented not only the current status of autonomous vehicle technology development but also measures to ensure the safety of autonomous vehicles through driving examples, test methods, and standard development.

Professor Seo Seung-woo of Seoul National University, who founded the autonomous vehicle startup Thor Drive in Silicon Valley, USA, received a positive response for his presentation on the latest global technology trends and future mobility of autonomous vehicles.

At the International Standards Conference held following the General Assembly, the technology, standards, and regulatory strategies and implementation plans of leading countries and international organizations for autonomous vehicles to ensure the safety of autonomous mobility in real-world usage environments, such as robot taxis and autonomous delivery services, were presented.

They shared Intel's (USA) liability assessment model and criteria for autonomous vehicle accidents, BMW's (Germany) autonomous driving function safety assessment, and the Korea Testing Laboratory's (KTL) status of international standards regarding autonomous vehicle safety, and discussed measures for international standard cooperation.

The Chair of the European Economic Commission’s Autonomous Vehicle Regulation Subcommittee (UNECE/WP.29/GRVA) presented regulatory principles regarding the safety and cybersecurity of autonomous vehicles and mentioned the importance of international standards that form the basis of technical regulations.

With Germany, seven experts from both countries (3 from Germany, 4 from Korea) will participate in the Korea-Germany Standards Forum (S-dialogue) to be held on the 28th to discuss cooperation measures, such as identifying joint international standard development projects and exchanging experts, regarding autonomous and electric vehicles.

Lee Seung-woo, Administrator of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, “In accordance with the future vehicle industry development strategy, we will promptly establish a standard strategy roadmap for autonomous vehicles to develop 25 types of international standards and propose them to international standardization organizations,” adding, “Korea will demonstrate leading leadership in international standardization activities, such as the development of international standards to support the realization of autonomous vehicles.”He stated, "I will support rock."