Incheon Designated as Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone... 4 Areas Including Songdo and Yeongjong

A pilot zone for autonomous vehicles will be operated in Incheon.

On the 30th, Incheon City announced that four locations have been designated as autonomous vehicle pilot zones: Incheon City Hall in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu; Central Park in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu; Yeongjong-daero in Yeongjong-do, Jung-gu; and the roads around the 1st and 2nd International Passenger Terminals in Yeongjong-do. In these areas designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, certain regulations will be relaxed to promote research and development of autonomous vehicles.

Incheon City plans to enact an ordinance in the first half of next year to operate and support the pilot zones, and after reviewing autonomous driving service projects, aims to promote services utilizing autonomous vehicles in the second half of the year. Currently, there are a total of 34 autonomous vehicle pilot zones nationwide designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, including Incheon.

An autonomous vehicle pilot zone refers to an area where various regulatory exemptions are applied to promote research and pilot operation of autonomous vehicles. Private companies can provide paid passenger and cargo transportation using autonomous vehicles within these zones, and when granted temporary operation permits, they can implement various autonomous driving demonstration services suitable for business purposes under regulatory exemptions.

An official from Incheon City stated, "With the designation of the first autonomous vehicle pilot zone in Incheon, we will strive to attract related research institutions and companies to foster regional industrial growth and create new jobs."