O Se-hoon Rides Saebyeokdonghaeng Autonomous Bus: "Cutting-Edge Technology Prioritized for the Vulnerable"

Accompanying Early Morning Commuters on the 28th, Hearing Their Hardships
Departing Up to 30 Minutes Earlier Than the First City Bus
Official Operation of 'Dobongsan Station~Yeongdeungpo Station' Begins in October
Mayor Oh: "Will Thoroughly Prepare After Pilot Operation"

On the early morning of the 28th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon boarded the 'Sae-byeok Donghaeng Autonomous Bus' and promised to accompany the socially vulnerable through advanced transportation innovation, stating, "Advanced technology should be used first and foremost for the socially disadvantaged." The 'Sae-byeok Donghaeng Autonomous Bus' is scheduled to officially operate from October on the Dobongsan Station to Yeongdeungpo Station route (25.7km). It departs around 3:30 AM, up to 30 minutes earlier than the first city bus.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon boarded the Dawn Companion autonomous bus at the Gwangjang Market Central Bus Stop at 4 a.m. on the 28th and engaged in conversations with citizens commuting to work early in the morning.
[Photo by Seoul City]

On the day, ahead of the 2nd anniversary of the 8th term of the elected government on the 1st, Mayor Oh boarded the autonomous bus from Jongno 4-ga Gwangjang Market central stop to Chungjeongno Station. Traveling with four early morning workers including sanitation workers and security guards, Mayor Oh listened to their hardships and opinions, saying, "Going forward, we will continue to accompany citizens who open Seoul’s early mornings through advanced transportation innovation, alleviating difficulties of early morning and late-night commutes even a little, and resolving blind spots in public transportation."

Earlier, in May at the Abu Dhabi Annual Investment Meeting, Mayor Oh personally announced the 'People-first Advanced Transportation Innovation Strategy,' stating that the direction for the second half of the administration would focus on new industry growth and advanced transportation innovation that socially vulnerable and marginalized groups can feel in their daily lives. In line with this, Seoul City decided to deploy the first 'Sae-byeok Donghaeng Autonomous Bus' route covering the northeast to southwest areas, selecting the Dobongsan Station to Yeongdeungpo Station section for official operation starting in October. There are also plans to continuously deploy the buses on routes with heavy congestion on the first early morning buses, such as from Sanggye to Gangnam.

Additionally, as part of the 'Oh Se-hoon-style People-centered Advanced Transportation Innovation,' Seoul plans to expand 'region-customized autonomous buses' to transportation-disadvantaged areas far from subway stations and metropolitan areas where commuting to and from Seoul is inconvenient, thereby resolving blind spots in public transportation. Mayor Oh said, "While accumulating data through the autonomous bus pilot operation, I heard from workers who have to commute in the early morning hours that even bus drivers hesitate to work at that time, and these workers have no choice but to take taxis to get to work due to lack of buses." He added, "After the pilot operation, we will thoroughly prepare and promote this bus so that those who truly need it can use it at the times they need."