Call Public Transport with Kakao T... Autonomous DRT Service Introduced in Sangam

On November 12, Kakao Mobility announced that it will introduce an autonomous demand responsive transport (DRT) service in the Sangam area of Seoul, supporting ride-hailing, boarding, and payment through the Kakao T platform.

Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) is a public transportation service that flexibly operates routes and schedules by setting optimal routes according to user requests. It can also operate as a fixed-route service, stopping only at stations where a call has been made within a designated route.

Kakao Mobility has developed its own autonomous DRT service based on its experience in autonomous driving service demonstrations and platform technology. After being selected as the private operator for Seoul's autonomous vehicle transportation platform in September last year, Kakao Mobility has been providing Seoul’s autonomous driving service through the Kakao T app.

Kakao Mobility’s autonomous DRT service will begin operations on the ‘A02’ route in the Sangam district of Mapo-gu, in collaboration with autonomous driving technology company SWM. The route will be operated with a total of two vehicles, including one that is wheelchair accessible.

Users can select the DRT icon from the “View All” section within the Kakao T app, then choose the route, boarding and drop-off stations, number of passengers, and time to request a vehicle. Once dispatch is confirmed, users can check the estimated waiting time, vehicle information, and the real-time travel route.

The autonomous DRT service operated in Seoul will be offered free of charge for a limited time during the pilot period. It will run on weekdays from morning to afternoon (from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) near Sangam DMC Station (DMC Station Nurisquare, MBC, DMC Station).

Ryu Geungseon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, stated, “We hope that more citizens will experience the autonomous DRT service through the Kakao T app with this service offered in downtown Seoul,” adding, “We will continue to introduce various types of autonomous driving services, increase user acceptance of the technology, and work together to further develop the autonomous driving ecosystem.”