Seoul Autonomous Bus to Operate 'Early Morning Service' from October... Running Between 'Dobongsan~Yeongdeungpo'

Average Daily Users 100, Total Over 6,400 Users

The autonomous buses operating during late-night hours in Seoul will expand their early morning service to the 'Dobongsan~Yeongdeungpo' route starting in October. Since the late-night autonomous bus service began last year, it has shown high citizen satisfaction, with an average of about 100 passengers per day.

According to the city on the 4th, the late-night autonomous bus service on the Hapjeong Station~Dongdaemun route, which started operation on December 4 last year, has carried an average of about 100 passengers daily, with over 6,400 passengers to date.

Photo by Seoul City.

The customized autonomous bus service for public welfare supports comfortable transportation for workers such as sanitation workers and security guards who start their shifts early in the morning, as well as tired office workers heading home after late work hours. It is an advanced transportation-based public welfare policy.

The second customized early morning autonomous bus service, initiated by Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s idea, is also preparing for operation in October this year and is currently undergoing the legal procedure of designating an 'Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Zone.' It plans to operate on a long route connecting Dobongsan Station~Jongno~Mapo Station~Yeouido Station~Yeongdeungpo Station, where there is a large commuting population.

The early morning autonomous bus is expected to depart up to 30 minutes earlier than the average first bus time in the city, which is around 3:50 a.m. Next year, the early morning autonomous bus routes will be expanded to areas such as Sanggye~Gangnam, continuously deploying on routes with severe congestion during the first bus hours.

In addition, the city plans to gradually increase various customized autonomous buses, including express metropolitan autonomous buses operating in metropolitan areas inconvenient for commuting to Seoul, and autonomous buses circulating in transportation-disadvantaged areas far from subway stations.

Furthermore, starting in July, all autonomous buses operated by Seoul will be available for use with the unlimited transportation pass, the Climate Companion Card. The late-night and Blue House autonomous buses, which have been free of charge until July, will become paid services.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul City Urban Transportation Office, stated, "We will ensure that autonomous driving becomes a warm companion for ordinary citizens who need to travel late at night and early in the morning, and a good example of a customized public welfare policy that accompanies the vulnerable." He added, "We will continue to expand support for private technology and industrial development, as well as build a seamless autonomous driving infrastructure."