Skip to main content

Seoul adds autonomous bus to city's public transportation network

Following 11-month pilot, it will run on a 2.6km route in Korean capital
By Adam Hill July 9, 2024 Read time: 1 min
The Cheongwadae AV has five stops on a 15-minute route (image: Seoul Metropolitan Government)

Autonomous buses have been integrated into the city of Seoul's public transport system following an 11-month trial.

It costs the same as standard buses on the network, and runs at five locations every 15 minutes on a 2.6km route around some of the South Korean capital's key tourist spots between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheongwadae and the Gyeongbokgung Station.

Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) says the bus offers free transfer to passengers with transportation cards and unlimited access for Climate Card users.

Operating Monday to Friday, it stops at Gyeongbukgung Station (Hyoja-ro Entrance), National Palace Museum of Korea (Yeongchumun Gate), Cheongwadae, Chunchumun Gate and Gyeongbokgung Palace/National Folk Museum of Korea.

The Cheongwadae AV began its pilot operation in December 2022, and SMG reported "a large number of users and a high satisfaction rate, with a total of 45,621 local and international passengers". Operation closed last November to prepare for the paid service.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance agreement signed
    October 4, 2016
    UK public transport operators Arriva, Stagecoach and Merseytravel have signed a new agreement that will deliver more than US$32 million (£25 million) worth of investment in Liverpool’s bus services in year one of the five year partnership. The Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance will provide the region with improved, more efficient, joined-up and better value services. The agreement also sees a commitment from operators to provide modern bus fleets with an average age of no more than seven years. Pas
  • Copenhagen to showcase ITS in action at ITSWC 2018
    December 18, 2017
    As delegates head for the 2017 ITS World Congress in Montreal, we talk to Copenhagen mayor Morten Kabell about why his city is the ideal location for next year’s event. It may have been a long time coming but the ITS World Congress will be in Copenhagen in 2018 and there can be few more fitting places to host the event. By any number of metrics - interconnected transport, cycle commuting, safer streets, reduced pollution, sustainable energy and quality of life - the Danish capital has implemented what m
  • Big data and GPS combine to cut emergency response times
    April 2, 2014
    David Crawford looks at technologies for better emergency medical service delivery. Emergency medical services (EMS) play key roles in transporting, or bringing treatment to, patients who become ill through medical emergencies or are injured in road traffic accidents (RTAs). But awareness has been rising steadily, in the US and elsewhere, of the extent to which EMS can generate their own emergencies. The most common cause is vehicles causing or becoming involved in RTAs, as a result of driving fast under pr
  • Whim offers new unlimited and monthly packages, Helsinki
    December 4, 2017
    MaaS Global has launched two new mobility packages in Helsinki that combines public transport, taxi services and car rental, via its mobile app, Whim. The unlimited monthly deal offers free access to all modes of transport for €499 (£440) while the urban monthly package provides an unlimited number HSL single tickets and price-capped 10-euro taxi rides in a 5km radius. Additionally, it offers a fixed €49 (£43) per day Veho car rental option.