CITA RAG AA Conference 2026 in South Korea
Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Representatives from vehicle inspection authorities, government agencies, industry, technical organisations and mobility experts gathered in Daejeon, South Korea, for the CITA RAG Asia-Australasia Conference 2026, held under the theme “Beyond the Step: Realizing Intelligent & Sustainable Mobility.”
Hosted by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA), the conference provided a valuable platform for discussing the evolving role of vehicle inspection in an era of connected, automated and electrified mobility.
The event opened with a welcome dinner on 16 June, offering participants an opportunity to establish connections and exchange views ahead of the formal program. The main conference took place on 17 June at the ICC Hotel in Daejeon, combining in-person participation with online attendance from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The conference was officially opened by Mr Yongsik Jeong, President of KOTSA, who highlighted the importance of international cooperation in ensuring road safety and supporting the transition towards sustainable transport systems. Congratulatory remarks were delivered by Mr Gerhard Müller, President of CITA, alongside representatives of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Road and Transport of Mongolia.
In his address, Mr Müller emphasised the growing importance of vehicle inspection as vehicles become increasingly automated, software-driven and connected. He stressed that effective inspection systems will remain essential to maintaining roadworthiness, public trust and environmental performance throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
The first technical session, “Safe and Sustainable Mobility,” focused on current developments in vehicle inspection and roadworthiness management.
Hosang Lee (KOTSA and CITA Asia-Australasia Regional Chair) presented the current status of vehicle inspection in Korea and outlined future approaches to roadworthiness management. He was followed by Takaaki Baba (MLIT, Japan), who discussed the role of electronic periodic technical inspections (e-PTI) in supporting advanced safety vehicles. The session concluded with a presentation by Sunghan Song (TÜV SÜD) on autonomous driving technologies and cybersecurity challenges in the automotive sector.
The afternoon sessions explored how inspection frameworks must evolve to accommodate new vehicle technologies.
Jinho Yang (KOTSA) introduced innovative inspection methodologies designed for the autonomous vehicle era, while Hyunjun Kim (KOTSA) presented research on evaluating electric vehicle battery performance and safety using chassis dynamometer testing.
A particularly relevant presentation for the international inspection community was delivered by Eduard Fernandez and Olivier Pletinckx (CITA), who shared the latest developments in ADAS inspection assessment.
The final session focused on strengthening vehicle inspection systems and their broader contribution to road safety and environmental protection. Bee Heng Tan (DKT) discussed the role of centralised data management systems in periodic technical inspection and emissions control, while Sungsoo Lim (KOTSA) presented Korea’s vehicle inspector training system and operational practices.
The conference concluded with a speaker recognition ceremony led by Taeseok Oh (KOTSA), followed by a gala dinner and an engaging discussion on future mobility trends.
On 18 June, participants visited the Sejong Vehicle Inspection Center, where they observed practical demonstrations of advanced inspection technologies.
The technical programme included demonstrations of the KADAS ADAS inspection system and dedicated electric vehicle inspection procedures, allowing delegates to see first-hand how inspection organisations are adapting to emerging vehicle technologies.
The visit generated lively discussions among participants regarding the implementation of new inspection methods, data-driven roadworthiness assessment and future international cooperation in the field of intelligent mobility.
Through the exchange of practical experiences, policy perspectives and technical expertise, the conference reinforced CITA’s mission to support safe, sustainable and intelligent mobility worldwide while ensuring that vehicle inspection remains a cornerstone of road safety in the decades ahead.
CITA would like to thank KOTSA, all speakers, delegates and partners whose contributions made the event a great success.