By making the most of the IT power image that Korea holds well, the 2007 Seoul Motor Show is expected to be a differentiated motor exhibition through which visitors can see the most gorgeous and dynamic motor show in Korea alone.
Though Seoul Motor Show has a short history in comparison with the one hundred year old United States Detroit Motor Show, Germany's Frankfurt Motor Show, or France's Paris Motor Show, or even compared to Japan's Tokyo Motor Show holding its history over 50 years, the Seoul Motor Show is attracting attention from abroad as it repeats growth by leaps and bounds as a motor show befitting to the fifth position auto producing country in the world in terms of exhibition scale, display auto model, participating companies and visitor numbers.
On the occasion of the 2007 Seoul Motor Show to kick off, starting from April 5th's Press Day, the Korea IT Times met Hoh Moon, president of Organizing Committee for Seoul Motor Show, to hear about the 2007 Seoul Motor Show's traits as well as its economic ripple effects -- Ed.
Q: First off, please elaborate on the trait of the Seoul Motor Show 2007.
A: Seoul Motor Show is famous by presenting more diverse collateral functions than any other motor shows in the world.
First of all in terms of its display floor space, oversea finished car display size outran domestic finished car size for the first time since Seoul Motor Show has been held.
In the case of display car model, Seoul Motor Show will enhance motor show's grace by demonstrating ultra luxury cars such as Rolls-Royce and Porsche, a pronounced sports car.
Besides in the case of participating car maker, oversea major component manufacturers such as Siemens Automotive VDO, Robert Bosch, Delphi, and Hyundai Motors at home will participate in this forthcoming April Seoul Motor Show in large numbers. They are expected to show off not only their most cutting-edge future-model component, but also the first oversea national pavilion, the German pavilion, takes part in it for the first time since Seoul Motor Show has been held.
For visitors to amount to 1 million people, the Secretariat has anew established an auto supplies sales pavilion from this motor show so that visitors can purchase more cheaply all sorts of supplies as well as accessories necessary for auto.
Q: Please touch upon generally the forthcoming Seoul Motor Show 2007 to kick off on April 5th.
A: Starting from its Press Day on April 5th, the Seoul Motor Show 2007 will be held over 11 days through April 15 in KINTEX, Ilsan, Kyeonggi Province, Korea. Under the theme Creation of the Imagination--A New World is coming!, Seoul Motor Show will display passenger cars, commercial vehicles, twow h e e l e d v e h i c l e s , components and supplies so that visitors can see everything auto-related such as world auto market trends, auto principles, and new technology at a glance.
Since a total of 186 companies from 10 countries including finished car makers and component manufacturers at home and abroad are scheduled to take part in this forthcoming Seoul Motor Show, our Secretariat expects that this year's Seoul Motor Show would become the largest scale's motor show ever to attract over 1 million visitors.
Seoul Motor Show is the only international motor show at home, recognized officially by the Organization Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA).
Q: How will be the present status of new car display
A: A total of 20 new cars will be shown to the public including Hyundai Motor's HND-3, Kia Motor's KND-4, and Ssangyong Motor's D130.
First off, the HND-3 to be presented by Hyundai Motor Car which was developed in Namyang laboratory located in Hwasung, Kyeonggi Province, is a fusion style concept car that unites a hatchback and coupe.
Kia Motor's KND-4 is a sports utility vehicle (SUV) concept car, which reflects a next-generation design. The D130, to be presented by Ssangyong Motor Car, improves on the Kyron's appearance greatly and strengthens convenience as a seven seat SUV.
For foreign car makers, a total of 5 models will be unveiled including BMW's hydrogen car Hydrogen7 and X5 3.0d, Audi's S5, Ford's New Mondeo, Peugeot's 407 Hdi coupe. This will be the first time for cars to be opened to the public in the Asian market.
Thirteen other car models including Renault Samsung's small-sized SUV H45, Hyundai Motor Car's FD five-door and Ford's Smax will be presented for the first time at home.
Q: How much will be Seoul Motor Show's economic ripple effect
A: If a certain motor show takes place, its ripple effect is enormous. Considering not only auto new demand creation, but also economic ripple effect such as employment, production, tourism and transportation, Seoul Motor Show's economic ripple effect is forecast to reach approximately 800 billion won (US$853 million). What's more, export business talks worth $1 billion are likely to be possible by attracting 8,000 oversea buyers.
Q: What's Seoul Motor Show's development plan
A: Since the auto industry represents not only one country's economic power and technology level, but also its ripple effect about related industry is big, it is deemed to be an initiative industry of national economy.
Advanced countries have been notably utilizing motor show in nurturing and developing auto as a national key industry. Accordingly, starting from the year 2007, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association(www.kama.or.kr) will do its best so that Seoul Motor Show may secure its phase as an international motor show befitting to an auto producing country of the fifth position in the world.
On top of that, our Association will strive through high level exhibitions, diverse incidental events and a perfect exhibition venue operation based on meanwhile acquired know-how so that Seoul Motor Show can strike root as one of the five global motor shows along with Germany's Frankfurt, France's Paris, the USA's Detroit, and Japan's Tokyo.
To that end, Seoul Motor Show will present not only the future auto's trend and direction by displaying mass production car, new car, concept car and environmentfriendly auto, but also rational, futureoriented policy alternative and vision about an auto pending question plus fostering auto industry's nurturing/development through a comparative showcase so that the Seoul Motor Show can serve as a ground of auto festival and as a real auto composite exhibition to facilitate component industry's development.
Q: How do you see the relation between auto industry and Automotive Telematics
A: Automotive Telematics is a staple field, which creates new profit by constructing differentiated sphere in auto industry. From the stage of new car development, auto industry and telematics have a very close relation and focus R&D investment on engine and electronics telecommunication components.
Telematics application such as Infotainment, navigation and security equipment boosts not only gradually consumer's convenience, but also contributes to vehicle sales of differentiated staple telematics brand vehicles.
Since such trend appeared in the past in high-price vehicle alone for middle age or the prime of manhood consumer, but in recent years telematics application draws young consumer stratum purchase by means of simple, relatively cheap system, nowadays automotive telematics is being disseminated to all vehicles.
