Large Van Taxi 'Shuckle' Using AI Technology Operates in Eunpyeong New Town Area

Eunpyeong-gu Jingwan-dong Large Shared Taxi Pilot Operation Eases Resident Inconvenience... Convenient for Local Residents' Short-Distance Travel, Helps Alleviate Parking Issues... 3-Month Pilot Operation for Empirical Analysis Planned... Collaboration Among Ministry of Land, Eunpyeong-gu, and Private Companies (Hyundai Motor, KSTM) to Resolve Traffic Congestion

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that the demand-responsive community-based mobility service ‘Shucle,’ making its debut in Korea, will begin pilot operations in the Eunpyeong New Town area starting on the 14th.

Shucle, a collaboration between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Eunpyeong-gu, and private companies (Hyundai Motor Company, KSTM), is a platform-based mobility service developed to enhance convenience for short-distance travel by facilitating free movement within daily life hubs such as residential areas, schools, and local shops, based on the insight that most everyday travel distances are short.

The Eunpyeong New Town area is largely divided into two parts centered around Imalsan Mountain, making inter-area exchange inconvenient, and there are no village buses operating primarily on short-distance routes that serve as transportation for local residents.

Additionally, considering that the population groups expected to be the main customers?ages 5 to 19 and 40 to 54?make up 46% of the total residents, and the average household size is 2.72 persons, which is higher compared to other regions, the area was selected for the pilot operation.

Among applicants residing in Eunpyeong New Town, about 100 people will be selected to participate in Shucle’s three-month closed membership pilot. Six Solati minibuses will be deployed from 7 a.m. to midnight. When members request a vehicle via the app within the service area, passengers will be picked up and dropped off in a shared ride format. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for real-time optimal route setting minimizes passenger wait times, and convenience is enhanced by considering passenger characteristics, such as automatic assignment of car seats for passengers accompanied by infants and young children.

Although taxi ride-sharing is prohibited under the current Taxi Development Act, the project became temporarily feasible after being designated as an ICT regulatory sandbox by the Ministry of Science and ICT in November last year.

The pilot will be free of charge for three months starting on the 14th. From May to September, data will be analyzed based on the demonstration results, and after consultations with related agencies and amendments to relevant laws, the decision on whether to operate the full service will be made. The full service will operate as a paid monthly subscription, with the fare plan determined based on the analysis results.

Once the full service is implemented after the pilot, it is expected to reduce unnecessary short-distance private car trips by one to two people, increase public transportation usage, and help alleviate traffic congestion on Tongil-ro, where daily traffic volume reaches about 52,000 vehicles and commuting speeds are below 15 km/h.

Shuttle to operate in Jingwan-dong

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “This pilot operation of large shared taxis marks the first step toward establishing a diverse future-oriented innovative mobility service system. It will contribute to resolving resident inconveniences that existing public transportation could not address and is expected to revitalize the community by reducing unnecessary short-distance private car trips. We will actively strive to coexist with existing transportation industries such as taxis and buses, enhance resident convenience, and ensure safe mobility as we provide this service.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.