- 30th Anniversary International Seminar Railways and Public Transport Future Driven by Innovative Technologies”Successfully Held -

SEOUL, South Korea – March 18 – The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) (President: Sagong Myung) held an international seminar on March 17 (Tue) at 1:30 p.m. in the Grand Conference Room (Room 401) at COEX, Seoul, under the theme “Railways and Public Transport Future Driven by Innovative Technologies,” in celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2026.

The seminar reviewed KRRI’s achievements over the past 30 years and explored the future vision and direction of global railway technologies.

The event was attended by Hong Ji-seon, Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Kim Young-sik, Chairman of the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST); and approximately 400 railway experts from Korea and abroad.

In the keynote session, Kim Tae-byeong, Director General for Railroads at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, presented the achievements of Korea’s railway technology development and future directions for railway innovation. ZHANG Zhifang, Chairman of the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS), shared insights on global railway technology innovation and the outlook for international cooperation over the next 30 years.

The presentations consisted of seven topics across two sessions. Session 1 focused on trends in high-speed rail development and technological directions for speed enhancement, while Session 2 addressed next-generation railway technologies incorporating AI.

※ Session 1 Presentations “Spatial Innovation Achieved Through Railways and Its Future” (4 topics)
- The Future of High-Speed Rail: Spatial Innovation Through Speed and Sustainability (Presenter: Choi Sung-hoon, Director General of Rail Vehicle Division, KRRI)
- Beyond Distance: The Spatial Power of Railway Speed (Presenter: Kim Jong-hak, Research Fellow, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements)
- High-Speed Rail Worldwide: System Evolution and Future Directions (Presenter: Mr. Michele GESUALDI, Senior Advisor for High-Speed Rail, UIC)
- Impact of High-Speed Rail in Spatial Planning - the Example of France (Presenter: Mr. Marc Guigon, CEO of MG Consult, Former Director of High-Speed Passenger Department, UIC)

Choi Sung-hoon, Director General of Rail Vehicle Division at KRRI, presented how speed enhancement in high-speed rail can transform urban and regional spatial structures and contribute to sustainable transportation, along with KRRI’s R&D status.

Kim Jong-hak, Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, explained how railways influence not only travel time reduction but also connectivity between regions and spatial structures.

Michele GESUALDI, Senior Advisor for High-Speed Rail at UIC, introduced the evolution of global high-speed rail systems, key technological changes, and future directions.

Marc Guigon, CEO of MG Consult, analyzed the impact of high-speed rail on national and urban spatial planning, focusing on the case of France.

※ Session 2 Presentations “AI and the Future of Railways” (3 topics)
- AI Transformation (AX) for the Future of Railways and Transportation (Presenter: Kim Hyeon-ki, Director General of AI Transformation (AX) Division for Railroad & Transportation, KRRI)
- AI Agents in Railway Planning: Emerging Roles and Future Directions (Presenter: Son Ki-min, Professor, Chung-Ang University)
- Development of Intelligent Train Operation Control System Technology for China Railway (Presenter: Mr. ZHANG Miao, Researcher, CARS)

Kim Hyeon-ki, Director General of AI Transformation (AX) Division for Railroad & Transportation at KRRI, presented how AI-based digital transformation is reshaping railway and transportation systems and introduced KRRI’s current AI-integrated transportation research.

Son Ki-min, Professor at Chung-Ang University, presented methodologies for applying AI in railway planning and operations and discussed its roles and potential applications.

ZHANG Miao, Researcher at CARS, introduced the current status and application directions of train operation control system technologies in China.

President Sagong Myung of KRRI said, “We hope this seminar will serve as an opportunity to discuss the next 30 years of global railway technology and expand international cooperation,” and added, “We will strive to enhance public mobility convenience and transform land use and spatial connectivity through high-speed rail development, while realizing safer and more convenient future railway transportation through AI technologies.”





Press Contacts

Sunghyun Baek
Korea Railroad Research Institute
baeksh@krri.re.kr
+82 31 460 5183