[Report] Korea’s Autonomous Driving Dream Realized... Visiting K-City After Completing the Third Phase of Advancement

Korea Transportation Safety Authority Unveils Autonomous Driving Test City to the Press for the First Time
After Initial Phase in 2018, Harsh Environment Simulations Added in Phase Two
Three-Dimensional Roads and Pedestrian Emergence Simulated... Aiming for Level 4 Autonomous Driving

On December 4, I visited the K-City Control Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The control system, which covers an entire wall with monitors, allows real-time monitoring of all vehicles registered within the 650,000-pyeong (2.14 million square meters) test site. This is made possible through approximately 100 closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) installed throughout the facility and terminals attached to each vehicle.

K-City is a facility designed to simulate an environment similar to an actual urban area for autonomous driving research and technology development. It is located inside the driving test track at the Automotive Safety Research Institute, affiliated with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. As a testbed for refining autonomous vehicle technology, it is the largest of its kind in the country. After completing the third phase of its advancement project last month, K-City was unveiled to domestic media for the first time.

Inside the Control Center of the Autonomous Driving Test City K-City at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority's Automotive Safety Research Institute. Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority

Three-Dimensional Roads and Emergency Situations... Completion of the Third Phase of Advancement

The government began planning a large-scale autonomous driving test site in 2016. In the first phase, it recreated environments such as expressways, urban, and suburban areas to develop and evaluate Level 3 (conditional autonomous driving) technologies, launching the facility in December 2018. The second phase enhanced the site for Level 4 technology development by simulating adverse conditions such as rain, fog, communication disruptions like GPS jamming, and challenging scenarios such as jaywalking and sudden lane changes.

The third phase focused on refining and demonstrating even more advanced autonomous driving technologies. The facility now features complex urban intersections, such as three-dimensional ramps like those found at highway interchanges, as well as alleys and dedicated bus and bicycle lanes. It can also recreate situations where pedestrians or two-wheeled vehicles suddenly appear from blind spots. In addition to expanding and increasing the number of lanes, a separate autonomous parking facility-expected to be commercialized soon-has been established.

Kim Minseong, Senior Researcher at the K-City Research Division, explained, "Previously, the control system monitored vehicles only through CCTV, but now, with terminals installed on each vehicle, autonomous vehicle research companies can conduct tests more safely with individual monitoring. By expanding the next-generation intelligent transport system (C-ITS), it is now possible to check real-time events and receive information about surrounding vehicles."

An autonomous shuttle carrying reporters is driving inside K-City. The safety manager sitting in the driver's seat does not control the vehicle separately; the vehicle drives itself. Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority

Established as a Leading Testbed Infrastructure for Small and Startup Companies

Since its full-scale operation began in 2019, K-City has served as a key infrastructure for developing autonomous driving technologies. Over the past seven years until last month, 199 organizations used the facility 7,071 times, totaling 40,612 hours. According to the institute, the direct and indirect economic support effect for small and venture companies lacking their own facilities is estimated at about 14.4 billion won.

The Autonomous Driving Future Innovation Center, located in one section of K-City, serves as a research and startup space for related small and early-stage companies. Twelve companies are currently based there, developing a range of technologies including proprietary platforms, components, and finished vehicles. They work on algorithm development, communication verification, remote driving, and radar and lidar validation. Leading domestic companies such as Autonomous A2Z and RideFlux, which operate autonomous shuttles in locations like Cheonggyecheon in Seoul and Bomun Complex in Gyeongju, are also based here.

The institute stated, "Through customized private sector support, we have attracted investments totaling 114 billion won and established international cooperation systems with the United States, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, paving the way for domestic startups to expand overseas. In conjunction with the Ministry of Economy and Finance's K-Testbed project, we issue performance certificates for new technologies and prototypes and support public market entry by registering them with the Public Procurement Service's technology marketplace."

Sanghyun Lee, Senior Researcher at the Korea Automobile Safety Research Institute, is explaining the principles while recreating a foggy situation at the Weather Environment Simulation Facility on the 4th. Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority

One in Three Vehicles Vulnerable to External Hacking... Cybersecurity Center in Operation

The Automotive Cybersecurity Center, which began operating alongside the advancement of K-City, was also unveiled to the press on this day. With external cyber threats such as hacking, it has become entirely possible to control vehicles regardless of the driver's intentions. Since automotive cybersecurity is directly linked to the safety of drivers and pedestrians, the need for heightened attention has grown significantly.

According to the institute, the number of vehicle cyberattack factors has increased by more than 89% annually on average over the past five years. As vehicles become more electronic and connected, the level of threat has also risen. Of the approximately 26 million registered vehicles in Korea, about 10 million-over one-third-are capable of external connectivity. In response, Korea adopted international standards requiring automakers to establish a Cyber Security Management System (CSMS) and produce safe vehicles, implementing a cybersecurity system from August this year.

It is demonstrating that a moving vehicle can be controlled externally. By disabling the security system on a temporary vehicle, it is possible to make the vehicle's lane-keeping assist system misrecognize and cause it to swerve left and right in an instant. Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority

The Cybersecurity Center reviews and certifies automakers' CSMS and conducts self-certification compliance inspections on about 19 vehicle models annually. It also receives reports of cybersecurity-related incidents or threats, collects and analyzes information on vulnerabilities in the latest vehicles, and posts updates on software status, thereby monitoring all aspects of automotive security work.

Ha Yeon Lee, Researcher at the Connected Car Research Division of the Automotive Safety Research Institute, explained, "The cybersecurity management system certified for manufacturers covers all processes, including risk management, incident response, and supplier management. We review 12 certification criteria, with a validity period of three years and annual post-certification management."