SKT Expands Autonomous Vehicle Operations in Sangam... Including Nanji Hangang Park

From Commercial and Residential Areas Near DMC Station to Nanji Hangang Park

SK Telecom announced on the 27th that it has expanded the autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone in the Sangam area, which was carried out as an extension of the Seoul City C-ITS demonstration project. The photo shows the control room of the 'Seoul Future Mobility Center' managing the Sangam autonomous driving pilot operation zone implemented as a digital twin. Photo by XXX

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] SK Telecom announced on the 27th that it has completed the expansion of the autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone in the Sangam-dong area of Mapo-gu, which it operates together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The roads where autonomous vehicles can operate in this area have significantly increased, including the World Cup Stadium, Noeul Park, Sky Park, and Nanji Hangang Park. Previously, autonomous vehicles could only run in the commercial and residential areas near Digital Media City (DMC) Station. On the newly added roads, road markings and guide signs have been installed to inform vehicle drivers and pedestrians that autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate in the area.

Along with the expansion of the pilot operation zone, SK Telecom plans to introduce next-generation Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) technology that enhances the safety level of autonomous vehicle operation based on various information and communication technologies (ICT). Using 'digital twin' technology, which replicates real-world spaces into a virtual world, the Sangam autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone will be implemented in 3D and linked with the control system of the 'Seoul Future Mobility Center' in Jung-gu, Seoul. This will enable integrated control of multiple vehicles, signal information, hazard alerts, and other data.

Additionally, infrastructure such as signal controllers, illegal parking cameras, and child protection zone detection cameras will be newly installed along a total of 32.3 km across 24 roads in the Sangam area. Based on this, services that assist safe driving, such as alerts for vehicle entry into child protection zones, pedestrian notifications, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of unexpected situations, will also be provided.

Since 2019, SK Telecom has been conducting a C-ITS demonstration project with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The goal is to realize convenient and safe autonomous driving by connecting everything?vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic infrastructure?through 5G.

Shin Yong-sik, head of SK Telecom Connect Infrastructure CO, said, "We hope that the expansion of this pilot operation zone will be an opportunity for 5G-based C-ITS services to advance to the next level," adding, "We will lead the autonomous driving era through world-class 5G technology."