[NewsZoomIn] Innovation in Intelligent Transportation Systems: 'Golden Time'... Must Bet on 5G

The Ministry of Science and ICT is advancing the transition to 5G-V2X, prompting optimism across industries. While next-generation intelligent transportation systems (C-ITS) have stalled due to fragmented infrastructure development, major economies like the U.S., China, and Europe are incrementally building their frameworks. With significant potential for V2X technology to revolutionize autonomous driving and C-ITS, South Korea must reassess its 5G-V2X strategy and develop a comprehensive approach. V2X, which enables vehicle-to-everything communication, is positioned as critical infrastructure for autonomous driving and C-ITS. Experts welcome the government's action but stress urgency, noting South Korea has fallen behind key nations due to prolonged debates over communication standards. Despite starting C-ITS pilot projects in 2014 and expanding them in 2019, the ministry's LTE-centric approach clashed with the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs' DSRC (Wave) preference, leading to delays and reduced demonstrations. Meanwhile, leading nations are aggressively advancing V2X adoption, with China piloting 5G-V2X and Europe integrating AI and cloud technologies into C-ITS. The government's move to 5G-V2X represents a critical step to close the gap with global leaders, as 5G-V2X offers dramatic improvements in data transmission speed and safety compared to LTE, promising enhanced autonomous driving capabilities and AI integration for road safety.