Kakao and Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority Sign MOU for Real-Time Passenger Ferry Information Integration

Integration of Passenger Ferry Traffic Information and Advanced Mapping

From the left in the photo, Junseok Kim, Chairman of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, and Changmin Lee, Leader of Kakao Map Traffic Tribe.

On July 6, Kakao announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) on July 4 for the integration of real-time passenger ferry information.

Under this agreement, Kakao plans to integrate KOMSA's passenger ferry traffic information into Kakao Map, enabling anyone to easily and conveniently access maritime transportation information. KOMSA will provide real-time operating status of coastal passenger ferries nationwide, forecasts for the next day's operations, and safety information for each ferry. Based on this data, Kakao will introduce an enhanced map service through Kakao Map.

Through this collaboration, passenger ferry users will be able to share their travel routes in real time with family or friends. In addition, the service will offer customized notifications such as ferry operation controls due to adverse weather conditions and next-day operation forecasts, information on onboard facilities for transportation-vulnerable passengers, and VR (virtual reality) content that allows users to preview ports and ferries in advance.

Furthermore, the map service will include the locations and accessible times of tidal causeways formed along the coastline, supporting the safe movement of coastal visitors and promoting local tourism. Kakao and the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority also plan to jointly carry out ESG (environmental, social, and governance)-based digital social contribution activities, such as joint campaigns, in the future.

Junseok Kim, Chairman of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, said, "Collaboration with a platform familiar to the public will provide an opportunity to more effectively communicate the Authority's role and the value of maritime transportation safety."

Changmin Lee, Leader of Kakao Map Traffic Tribe, added, "We will continue to create achievements through our collaboration with the Maritime Transportation Safety Authority on Kakao Map."