# South Korea Conducts Automotive Cybersecurity Drill

South Korea executed its first joint public-private automotive cybersecurity drill involving Hyundai Motor and multiple government agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Automobile Safety Research Institute (KATRI), Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), and the National Police Agency. The exercise simulated a coordinated response to a car hacking incident originating from a compromised supplier software update, aligning with recent amendments to Korea's Motor Vehicle Management Act that mandate cybersecurity management systems for vehicles. This contrasts with the U.S. regulatory environment, where such mandatory cybersecurity audits and type approvals for vehicles are not currently required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The drill underscores the increasing importance of supply chain cybersecurity in automotive manufacturing and highlights the need for multi-agency coordination to proactively manage cyber risks in connected vehicles.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note South Korea's evolving regulatory framework that mandates cybersecurity management systems for vehicles, signaling potential future requirements for automotive suppliers and contractors.
- The involvement of multiple government agencies and a major OEM like Hyundai indicates growing public-private collaboration opportunities in automotive cybersecurity.
- U.S. agencies and contractors may find strategic value in monitoring these developments as they could influence future U.S. regulatory approaches or international standards.
- Companies engaged in automotive supply chains should evaluate their cybersecurity risk management practices and consider alignment with emerging international standards to remain competitive in global markets.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 19, 2026

### Government Entities
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
- Korea Automobile Safety Research Institute (KATRI)
- Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA)
- National Police Agency
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

### Vendors
- Hyundai Motor (prime contractor)

### Sources
- [Korea's Car-Hacking Drill Exposes a U.S. Cybersecurity Gap](https://theautowire.com/2026/09/19/korea-hyundai-car-hacking-drill-cybersecurity) - The Auto Wire