KSAE

What KSAE does

KSAE (Korean Society of Automotive Engineers, 사단법인 한국자동차공학회) is a non-profit professional academic society incorporated in 1978 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu). It is the preeminent automotive engineering society in Korea, serving individual engineers, researchers, professors, students, automotive OEMs, parts suppliers, libraries, and government research institutes. As of March 2026, KSAE has reached 50,000+ individual members and operates 13 sector divisions, 9 research committees, 7 standing committees, and 4 regional chapters, spanning the full Korean automotive ecosystem.

KSAE's core outputs are intellectual infrastructure rather than commercial products. It publishes three periodicals: the monthly Auto Journal magazine (since 1979), the SCOPUS/KCI-indexed Korean-language Transactions of KSAE (국문논문집, since 1979/separated 1993), and IJAT (International Journal of Automotive Technology, SCIE-indexed since 2003, distributed globally via Springer). It manages 337 automotive standards — 97 KSAE proprietary, 223 KS-aligned, and 17 SAE-aligned — and operates as Korea's COSD (Co-operating Organization for Standards Development) and the domestic secretariat for ISO/TC22 (Road Vehicles) and ISO/TC70 (Internal Combustion Engines). Additional products include semi-annual academic conferences, student competitions (Baja, Formula, Autonomous Driving, EV Energy Challenge), technical workshops and seminars, the KSAE Leaders Forum for corporate CEOs/CTOs, and technical books.

KSAE's revenue model is diversified across five streams: (1) recurring membership dues (Regular 70,000 KRW/year, Student 30,000 KRW/year, Lifetime one-time 300,000–900,000 KRW depending on age, Data-User 200,000 KRW/year), (2) Auto Journal advertising (100,000–3,000,000 KRW per placement, with 12M KRW annual packages), (3) standards document sales (members receive 50% discount), (4) conference and event registration fees, and (5) book and publication sales. Distribution combines self-service digital channels (ksae.org, submit.ksae.org, ijat.net), institutional channels via Springer for IJAT globally, and physical mail for printed journals. The society is governed by a Board of Directors and Board of Councilors, with an annually rotating president (39th president Jeong Seon-gyeong took office January 1, 2026), and was designated a public interest corporation by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance effective January 1, 2024.

Name

KSAE

Legal name

사단법인 한국자동차공학회 (The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers)

Website

https://ksae.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KSAE is a 1978-founded South Korean non-profit professional society serving 50,000+ automotive engineers, OEMs, suppliers, and universities through peer-reviewed journals (IJAT, Korean Transactions, Auto Journal), 337 automotive standards, conferences, and student competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services — Automotive Engineering Society

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJACAB

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Professional & Legal Publishing (Standards, Compliance, Reference)

SECONDARYEDAGAGAC

Engineering & Technical Standards (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical; Codes & Standards)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional & Technical Reference Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJACAG

Engineering & Technical Reference Publishing (Handbooks, Specifications)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Professional & Legal Publishing (Standards, Compliance, Reference)

Keywords

• Automotive engineering society
• Professional association services
• Academic journal publishing
• Automotive standards development
• Industry conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual members (정회원 60,000원/yr, 학생회원 30,000원/yr, 종신회원 one-time 300,000–900,000원), corporate members, and data-user members (200,000원/yr). This is the primary recurring revenue stream.
2. Journal Advertising: Paid advertising placements in the Auto Journal monthly magazine. Pricing ranges from 100,000원 for business card ads to 3,000,000원 for front cover full-page color ads. Package deals available at 12,000,000원/yr. Corporate member discounts apply.
3. Standards Sales: Sale of KSAE group standards (단체표준) and aligned KS/SAE standards. Standards are downloadable upon payment. Members receive 50% discount; corporate members get free access to browse. Non-members pay full price.
4. Conference and Event Fees: Registration fees for academic conferences (춘계, 추계학술대회), workshops, seminars, student competitions (Baja, Formula, autonomous driving), and the KSAE Leaders Forum. Fees vary by event.
5. Publications and Books: Sale of published books including the KSAE Automotive Terminology Dictionary, International System of Units (SI) guide, and Automotive Technology Handbook.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KSAE is a professional academic society that delivers automotive engineering knowledge and standards through three peer-reviewed journals (Auto Journal, Korean Transactions, and IJAT), standards development and management (337 automotive standards), and member-driven events including academic conferences, workshops, student competitions, and the KSAE Leaders Forum. Its primary customers are corporate automotive OEMs and suppliers, individual automotive engineers and researchers, and institutional data-user members (libraries and research institutes) in South Korea.

Product overview

KSAE (Korean Society of Automotive Engineers) is a professional academic society, not a product company. Its offerings consist of academic publications (Auto Journal magazine, Korean Transactions journal, and IJAT international journal), technical standards development, academic conferences, student competitions (Baja and Formula), and the EV Energy Challenge competition. The organization serves automotive industry professionals through knowledge sharing, networking events, and standards development rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auto Journal (오토저널) Monthly automotive technology magazine published 12 times per year; covers automotive technology trends, standards, patents, and regulations for automotive industry professionals and general readers. Available in print and PDF to members.
• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (국문논문집) Korean-language academic journal covering all fields of automotive engineering; published monthly online and bi-monthly in print; SCOPUS and KCI indexed.
• IJAT (International Journal of Automotive Technology) International automotive engineering journal published 6 times per year; SCIE-indexed; distributed globally through Springer for international subscribers. Open Access publishing since February 2024.
• KSAE Academic Conferences (학술대회) Semi-annual spring and fall academic conferences featuring paper presentations, exhibitions, and technical sessions for automotive engineering professionals.
• Student Homemade Car Competition (대학생 자작자동차대회) — Baja and Formula Student Korea Annual student engineering competitions including Baja Student Korea and Formula Student Korea; targets engineering students to build skills in vehicle design and engineering.
• EV Energy Challenge (EV 에너지 챌린저) EV energy efficiency simulation competition for students and researchers, featuring practical challenges and awards.
• KSAE Leaders Forum (KSAE 리더스포럼) CEO/CTO invitation forum for KSAE corporate members featuring automotive technology trends and OEM-supplier business networking.
• KSAE Group Standards (단체표준) — Automotive Standards Development Automotive industry standards development and management service; includes KSAE standards (97), KS harmonization standards (223), and SAE harmonization standards (17). Standards available for purchase by members and non-members; members receive 50% discount.
• KSAE Publications and Books (단행본) Technical publications including the KSAE Automotive Terminology Dictionary, International System of Units (SI) guide, and Automotive Technology Handbook. Sold as books to members and the public.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 국립환경과학원 (National Institute of Environmental Science)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026MOU signed on 2026-05-20 for collaboration on automotive environmental research, likely aligned with KSAE's emissions, environment, and EV energy challenge programs.
• 한국자동차환경협회 (Korea Automobile Environmental Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026MOU signed on 2026-02-10 for cooperation on automotive environmental initiatives, standards, and research. Both organizations share重叠 missions in automotive environmental technology and regulation.
• 대한전기학회 (Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers, KIEE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025MOU signed on 2025-07-17. Likely focuses on EV/hydrogen electrification, electrical systems in vehicles, and cross-disciplinary collaboration between automotive and electrical engineering.
• 한국여성공학기술인협회 / IT여성기업인협회 / 한국여성건설인협회 / 한국여성건축가협회 / 한국여성원자력전문인협회 / 한국여성정보인협회 / 대한전기학회 여성과학기술위원회 / 한국기술사회 여성위원회 / 대한설비공학회 여성설비위원회 (Women in Engineering Associations)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2024MOU for women's engineering lifecycle growth support signed 2024-11-08 by KSAE Women's Committee with 10 partner organizations. Aims to support female automotive engineers throughout their careers.
• 자율주행기술개발혁신사업단 (KADIF) / 한국통신학회 / 한국ITS학회 / 대한교통학회 / 한국도로학회 / 한국디지털콘텐츠학회 / 대한공간정보학회 / 한국모빌리티학회majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2024MOU signed 2024-07-19 with KADIF (Autonomous Driving Technology Development Innovation Initiative) and 7 other academic societies (Korean Institute of Communications, ITS Society, Korean Society of Transportation, Korean Road Society, Digital Contents Society, Korean Society of Spatial Information, Korean Society of Mobility). Focus on autonomous driving research collaboration.
• 국립소방원 (National Emergency Management Research Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024MOU signed 2024-07-08, likely in connection with KSAE's EV fire response technology committee (전기차 화재대응기술 산학위원회, established 2023-12-14).
• 국민대학교 (Kookmin University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2021MOU signed 2021-04-02 for academic cooperation, student competition support, and joint research. Kookmin University student teams compete in KSAE Baja and Formula events.
• 대구광역시 (Daegu Metropolitan City)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2020MOU signed 2020-10-29 for automotive industry development cooperation. Daegu hosted the Daegu International Future Auto Expo (DIFA) with KSAE support.
• 대한자동차경주협회 (Korean Automobile Racing Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2020MOU signed 2020-07-16 for cooperation on automotive racing, competitions, and related events. Associated with the Gunsan automotive race track used for student competitions.
• 영광군 (Yeonggwang County)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2019MOU signed 2019-06-26 for regional cooperation in automotive/smart mobility development. Yeonggwang County is near the Gunsan test track used for student competitions.
• 한국광학회 (Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2017MOU signed 2017-12-21 for cooperation on automotive lighting, optical systems, and related research.
• 교통안전공단 자동차안전研究院 (KATRI / Korea Transportation Safety Agency Automotive Safety Research Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2017MOU signed 2017-11-16 for cooperation on automotive safety research, testing, and standards.
• 한국통신학회 (Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2017MOU signed 2017-09-08 for cooperation on connected vehicles, V2X, and automotive communications technology — overlapping with KSAE's autonomous driving and ITS divisions.
• 한국산업단지공단 (Korea Industrial Complex Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2016MOU signed 2016-11-10 for cooperation on automotive industry development within industrial complexes.
• 한국과학우주청소년단 (Korea Aerospace Science Youth Corps)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2015MOU signed 2015-12-21 for science education and outreach to youth related to automotive and mobility technology.
• 고양 친환경 자동차 클러스터 (Goyang Eco-friendly Automobile Cluster)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2015MOU signed 2015-10-22 with Goyang City, Goyang K-City, Inseon Motors. Regional eco-friendly automotive industry cluster development.
• EVS (International Electric Vehicle Symposium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2015KSAE hosted/co-hosted EVS28 in 2015 (Jeju) and EVS37 in 2024 (Seoul). These are major international electric vehicle conferences.
• 일본자동차공학회 (JSAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2013MOU signed 2013-08-05 for mutual cooperation in automotive engineering. Includes standards development collaboration. JSAE is Japan's equivalent automotive engineering society.
• 한국ITS학회 (Korean Society of Intelligent Transportation Systems)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2013MOU signed 2013-05-09 for cooperation on intelligent transportation systems and connected/autonomous vehicles. Joint workshops held.
• 충청남도 (South Chungcheong Province)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2013MOU signed 2013-04-30 for fostering the hydrogen fuel cell automotive industry in South Chungcheong Province.
• 지능형전력망협회 (Smart Grid Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2012MOU signed 2012-10-10 for cooperation on electric vehicle standardization and smart grid integration.
• 독일자동차협회 (VDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2011MOU signed 2011-09-19 for cooperation on standards development. VDA is the German Association of the Automotive Industry.
• 국제전기전자기술사협회 (IEEE)majorTechnology or Integration · 8 September 2011MOU signed 2011-09-08 for standards development cooperation. IEEE provides international technical standards framework relevant to automotive electronics and software.
• SAE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2010Standards Translation Agreement signed 2010-08-16. MOU originally signed 2010-02-08. KSAE translates and distributes SAE International standards in Korea. SAE International is the global automotive engineering standards body.
• WEVA (World Electric Vehicle Association) / EVAAP (Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 1998KSAE joined WEVA (World Electric Vehicle Association) and EVAAP (Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific) in 1998-09-01. EVAAP was established with KSAE's support (incorporation approved 2013-05-08). KSAE hosted major EV symposiums including EVS28 (2015) and EVS37 (2024).
• FISITA (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Ingénieurs des Techniques de l'Automobile / World Automotive Engineers Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 1981KSAE joined FISITA as the 20th member country on 1981-03-27. KSAE hosted the FISITA 2016 World Automotive Congress in BEXCO, Busan (2016-09-26 to 2016-09-30). KSAE President Gwang-min Moon served as Vice President of FISITA Technical Committee (2012–2014).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SAE International: SAE International is the original global automotive engineering professional society, publishing SAE Technical Papers, managing SAE standards, and hosting the SAE World Congress. KSAE has a formal standards translation agreement with SAE International since 2010, making it the most direct functional counterpart — same publications-plus-standards-plus-events model applied to the Korean market.
• VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie): VDA is the German Association of the Automotive Industry, combining industry representation with standards development and technical conferences. KSAE signed an MOU with VDA in September 2011 for standards development cooperation, establishing VDA as the European functional peer for KSAE's industry-academia-government bridging model.
• China SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers of China): China SAE is China's national automotive engineering society, organizing congresses, publishing journals, and shaping Chinese automotive standards. As the closest peer in the largest Asian automotive market and a fellow FISITA member, China SAE directly competes with KSAE for regional standards influence and academic prestige in Asia.
• FISITA: FISITA is the global federation of national automotive engineering societies. KSAE joined FISITA in 1981 as the 20th member country and hosted the FISITA 2016 World Automotive Congress in Busan. FISITA is the umbrella peer organization for KSAE and comparable national societies, coordinating international technical exchange.
• WEVA (World Electric Vehicle Association) / EVAAP: WEVA is the global federation for electric vehicle associations, with EVAAP covering the Asia-Pacific region. KSAE joined in 1998, helped incorporate EVAAP in 2013, and hosted EVS28 (2015) and EVS37 (2024). WEVA/EVAAP is a direct peer for KSAE's EV-focused activities, conferences (EVS), and emerging-mobility programming.
• JSAE (Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan): JSAE is Japan's equivalent automotive engineering academic society, publishing journals and organizing conferences. KSAE and JSAE signed an MOU in 2013 for mutual cooperation in automotive engineering and standards development, making JSAE the closest regional peer with nearly identical mission, governance, and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): IEEE is a much larger, broader engineering professional society that also develops technical standards — particularly relevant to automotive electronics, software, and connected vehicles. KSAE signed an MOU with IEEE in 2011 for standards cooperation, making IEEE a broad incumbent peer that intersects with KSAE in autonomous driving and EV domains.
• ASTM International: ASTM International is a globally recognized standards development organization using a consensus-based volunteer model similar to KSAE's COSD framework. As a broad incumbent SDO with mature standards monetization (standards sales, membership), ASTM is a relevant comparator for how KSAE could evolve its standards business over time.
• ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers): ASME is the leading U.S. mechanical engineering society with a similar member-funded, publications-and-conferences-plus-standards model. While broader in scope than KSAE, ASME's automotive-relevant activities (vehicle powertrain, thermal management, manufacturing) and society structure make it a broad incumbent peer for benchmarking operations.

Regional players

• KSME (Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers): KSME is the broader Korean mechanical engineering society, publishing the JSME-aligned Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology. As a Korea-based engineering society with overlapping automotive-relevant membership (vehicle dynamics, powertrain, manufacturing), KSME competes for Korean engineering talent and academic publications relevant to automotive topics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvx8_yRwDPx4mxAYpc02Imw
• Facebookfacebook.com/jajak.ksae
• Instagraminstagram.com/ksae_official
• Xx.com/ksae_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-korean-society-of-automotive-engineers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about KSAE