Shinsegae Introduces Autonomous Driving Solution in Hwaseong's 'Starbay City'

Collaboration with 42dot for Introduction of Autonomous Driving Mobility Solutions
Exploring Cooperation in Autonomous Mobility and Logistics
From Next-Generation Transportation to Automated Delivery of Shopping Items
Aiming to Provide Innovative Services with Advanced Technology, Safety, and Convenience

Shinsegae Property announced on the 17th that it is promoting the introduction of autonomous driving solutions in Hwaseong's 'Starbay City (Hwaseong International Theme Park Complex Development Project)' and is embarking on creating a future-oriented smart city ecosystem.

Lim Young-rok, President of Shinsegae Group (left), and Song Chang-hyun, CEO of FortyTwoDot, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing an agreement at the Shinsegae Property headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Shinsegae Property

In this regard, Shinsegae Property signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 14th with 42dot to introduce autonomous driving mobility and logistics solutions within Starbay City. 42dot is a Hyundai Motor Group global software center and an affiliate responsible for the group’s future mobility innovation development, leading the domestic autonomous driving technology development.

The Starbay City development project is a complex tourism district project that consolidates a global theme park, water park, golf course, accommodation facilities, Starfield, and residential complexes based on Paramount’s intellectual property (IP) on a site of 4,189,000㎡ (approximately 1.27 million pyeong) within Songsan Green City, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It was designated as a tourism complex in December last year, marking the first step in the official approval process. The project aims to open the tourism complex in 2029.

This agreement was made to create a future-oriented urban environment within Starbay City and was prepared to build sustainable next-generation mobility solutions together with 42dot, which has been leading the development of smart vehicle technology.

In November 2023, Shinsegae Property signed an MOU with the 'K-UAM Dream Team' consortium (Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, SK Telecom, T Map Mobility) to promote the commercialization of urban air mobility (UAM). By additionally signing an MOU with 42dot this time, it has laid the foundation for building cutting-edge infrastructure across the entire smart mobility sector.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to explore data-driven autonomous driving mobility solutions and related service realization methods to implement a differentiated smart city. Specifically, they plan to establish an eco-friendly future mobility system encompassing Starbay City and build advanced services such as safe and convenient automatic delivery of tourist luggage and shopping items. The goal is also to realize a sustainable smart city where advanced technological innovation and economic development create a virtuous cycle.

To this end, Shinsegae Property will review service operation sites such as autonomous vehicle driving routes considering the main movement paths of visitors and residents of Starbay City and optimize the solution’s operating environment. To maximize visitor convenience, mobility-linked products combined with major facilities within the complex and nearby tourist sites such as the Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site will also be devised.

42dot will review the operation and maintenance plans for autonomous passenger and logistics services and vehicle control solutions connecting major facilities and mobility within Starbay City. By comprehensively analyzing vehicle, traffic, and transportation data, they plan to introduce various smart city solutions including user-centered autonomous driving services.

Lim Young-rok, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, said, “The autonomous driving mobility system is an important milestone that can open a new paradigm not only in transportation but also across citizens’ lifestyles.” He added, “Through this business agreement, we will promote the introduction of a user-centered, high-quality autonomous driving solution in Starbay City and build a higher-level urban infrastructure to lead domestic smart city development.”

Song Chang-hyun, CEO of 42dot, emphasized, “The core of a smart city is ultimately ‘user-centered’ value. We will connect 42dot’s urban transportation OS (operating system) solutions and various devices centered on the user to ensure that everyone enjoys safe and convenient mobility.”