The Seoul Motor Show will again be tagged with the lesser moniker “model show ” for failing to feature any new international cars this year, as it did in 2005. With the opening of the event 30 days away, the organizing committee unveiled the list of participating carmakers and models at a press conference at the Korea Press Center on Monday. There are only three premier models on the list -- the Hyundai HND-3, the Kia KND-4 concept vehicles and Ssangyong Motor’s D130 --that will be unveiled for the first time. And Ssangyong’s D130 is in fact a modified version of the carmaker’s Kyron SUV.

An executive with a participating automaker said the Seoul auto fair lags behinds international shows in failing to present new models or provide participants with the opportunity to understand directions and trends in the global car industry.

There are some eye-catching features. Thirteen recent models will be showcased for the first time in Korea, and BMW’s hydrogen car Hydrogen 7 and the New X5 3.0d, Audi’s S5, Ford’s new Mondeo and Peugeot’s coupe 407 HDi for the first time in Asia. Seventeen concept cars and seven future-oriented eco-friendly cars will be put on display.

However, industry insiders say that is not enough for an international auto show. Participating carmakers are disgruntled. Car importers paid a total of W1 billion (US$1=W951) in fees per company, but the Korea International Exhibition Center, where the fair is held, still sells promotional products to participants and receives extra fees. Critics say the motor show has become excessively commercial at the expense of its original goal of helping the development of the nation's auto industry.

(englishnews@chosun.com )