Young Tae Kim takes office as ITF Secretary-General

The International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD has a new Secretary-General. Dr Young Tae Kim, a Korean national, took up his position at the organisation’s Paris headquarters on 21 August. Kim is the first non-European to lead the world’s only all-modes transport organisation. The ITF acts as a policy think tank for its 59 member countries and organises the annual summit of transport ministers. Created as global intergovernmental transport organisation in 2006, the ITF evolved out of the European
August 22, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The 998 International Transport Forum (ITF) at the 7353 OECD has a new Secretary-General. Dr Young Tae Kim, a Korean national, took up his position at the organisation’s Paris headquarters on 21 August.


Kim is the first non-European to lead the world’s only all-modes transport organisation.

The ITF acts as a policy think tank for its 59 member countries and organises the annual summit of transport ministers. Created as global intergovernmental transport organisation in 2006, the ITF evolved out of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport founded in 1953.

“It is a privilege to lead an organisation that drives global dialogue for better transport”, Kim said upon taking office. “I thank the ministers of transport of ITF member countries for entrusting me with the leadership of ITF. I will work with all of them to consolidate what has been achieved, to make our work even more relevant for them, and to further strengthen the ITF’s global impact.”

“Transport technology and services are changing in dramatic ways that require new policy responses. I want ITF to be a global pioneer of advanced transport policies for the 21st century”, Kim added.

Kim paid tribute to his predecessor, José Viegas, saying his achievements over the past five years provide a strong foundation to build on.

Prior to becoming ITF Secretary-General, Kim served as a Director-General in Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. His career also included roles working for the President and the Prime Minister of Korea as well as three years at the Korean Embassy in Washington, DC. Kim holds a doctorate degree from the Institute d’Etudes Politiques (Science-Po) in Paris, France.

Related Content

  • April 7, 2014
    Pollution has more than one solution
    Professor Alexander Baklanov of the World Meteorological Organization talks to Colin Sowman about the difficulties of reducing urban pollution. The inhabitants of Beijing have recently been suffering pollution levels 20 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit while the European Union is revitalising its efforts to implement and enforce air quality standards. Almost inevitably much of the clean-up efforts are likely to focus on traffic planners and engineers.
    Read More
  • October 18, 2016
    ITF and FIA team to improve urban road safety
    The International Transport Federation (ITF) and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) are to launch Safer City Streets, the new global traffic safety network for liveable cities on 18 October during the UN Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador. Road safety is a growing issue for mayors and city managers. Cities address many challenges by working together and learning from each other – but so far not in the field of road safety data. Safer City Streets now fills this gap by linking cities t
    Read More
  • May 16, 2025
    ITS European Congress 2025: Shaping the future of mobility
    Clean, Resilient & Connected Mobility: #ITSSeville2025 takes place 19-21 May
    Read More
  • April 29, 2013
    Asian forum calls for vehicle quotas
    The seventh Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia, held in Bali, concluded with a commitment by Asian countries to implement sustainable transportation systems with the signing of the Bali Declaration on Vision Three Zeros — Zero Congestion, Zero Pollution and Zero Accidents. The international forum welcomed representatives from across Asia, as well as international organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, research organisations and sustainable transportation professi
    Read More

Highlighted Content