'Most Dynamic, Glittering'

The 6th Seoul Motor Show to open April 5 to be the largest with 186 auto and parts makers participating

The 6th Seoul Motor Show, being touted to be one of the best auto shows in the world in the same breath with those in Frankfurt, Paris, Detroit and Tokyo, is scheduled to open for 11 days from April 5 -15.
Huh Wan, director-general of the Organizing Committee of the Seoul Motor Show said the bi-annual event will be the largest since its initial show in 1995 with the foreign car makers taking larger space to display their cars than domestic car producers and under the theme of "Creation of the Imagination-A New World is Coming."The auto event is organized by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, the Korea Automobile Import Dealers Association and the Korea Auto Industries Cooperative Association.
Some 186 auto makers and auto parts makers including 121 at home and 65 from abroad have signed up to take part in the dynamic show, which is groomed to be the world's top motor show, the director-general said in a recent exclusive interview with NewsWorld.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
Question: What has been your determination in preparing the 2007 Seoul Motor Show?
Answer: The Seoul Motor Show is the only such event to take place in the country with the OICA (the Organization Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles) certification. The motor show this time will emphasize its own characteristics and supplement shortcomings evident from the 2005 show for its upgraded images. We will try to make it one of the biggest exhibitions and the most dynamic and glittering in the country with a great success so that it would be counted among one of the five best auto shows in the world along with those in Frankfurt, Paris, Detroit and Tokyo.
Q: How would you introduce the upcoming motor show?
A: The 2007 Seoul Motor Show will kickoff with the Press Day on April 5 and closes on April 15 at KINTEX in Seoul under the theme of "Creation of the Imagination ― A New World is Coming."It will have some 186 auto and parts makers, including 121 domestic and 65 foreign from 10 countries,
take part in the event to showcase finished cars and auto parts, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, two-wheeled cars, and auto parts, and visitors would be able to learn about the current trends in world auto markets, modern principles for auto production and new technologies in fact all about cars at a glance at the exhibition.
Those companies will use all of the exhibition space available at KINTEX-some 60,000 square meters- to display their products for some 1 million visitors expected to come to the center, making the event, the largest in its history.
Q: What about companies taking part and cars at the exhibition?
A: About 186 auto makers and parts makers from 10 countries have signed up to participate in the 2007 Seoul Motor Show. Passenger cars on display would include a Bentley the leading ultra luxury automobile in the world and Porsche, a famed sports car brand and globally known auto parts makers led by Hyundai Mobis, Siemens Automotive VDO, Robert Bosch, and Delphi, among others, to boost the reputation of the motor show.
For the first time, there will be a national section for Germany, especially, at the colorful event.
Q: What are economic effects the show will create, which we presume to be sizable?
A: A motor show creates substantial economic ripple effects. It will not only create new demands for cars, but also produce jobs, production, tourism, and transportation, among others, worth some 800 billion won in production value, we expect.
These direct economic effects from a motor show will perk-up the automobile industry, along with information on the most recent developments in world auto industry including new auto technology to help make domestic car industry competitive in the world stage.
Q: The size of show maybe large but is it too early to compare the Seoul Motor Show with major auto shows overseas?
A: As I noted, the Seoul event is projected to create some 800 billion won in economic effects, in addition to invigorating the auto industry, a foundation of the national economy and play a big role in boosting Korea's international image. We will work hard to make sure that the motor show will maximize the economic, social and cultural ripple effects. We will continue to work to maximize those economic effects even after the show is over.
Q: What are some of your expectations for the auto industry?
A: We hope that domestic auto companies, government ministries concerned and business organizations would work together to make the motor show known as the most dynamic and glittering to take its root as a global motor show. A motor show's reputation and image are a barometer for the level of the country's auto industry and culture. We hope that Seoul Motor Show will take its place as an exhibition that represents Korea and we can only try our best to make the motor show a great success. nw

A huge crowd in front of the entrance of KINTEX to visit the Seoul Motor Show in 2005.

Huh Wan, director-general of the Organizing Committee of the Seoul Motor Show

A view of 2005 Seoul Motor Show held at KINTEX in Seoul.