Seoul City to Operate Autonomous Buses for Transportation-Disadvantaged People

'Autonomous Bus for Transportation-Disadvantaged Passengers' Set to Launch
Third Project Following Late-Night and Early-Morning Buses... Starting with Underserved Areas
Selected Dongdaemun, Dongjak, and Seodaemun Districts... Full Operation Costs Supported

Seoul's customized transportation policy for citizens' livelihoods, the 'Autonomous Bus,' will be utilized as a daily transportation means connecting transportation-vulnerable areas within the region. Starting with three autonomous districts?Dongdaemun-gu, Dongjak-gu, and Seodaemun-gu?it is expected to establish itself as a transportation service for the elderly and local residents.

On the 10th, Seoul City announced that it will operate the 'Transportation-Vulnerable Autonomous Bus' from next year, a plan aimed at assisting the transportation convenience of socially disadvantaged groups and residents of autonomous districts.

The 'Transportation-Vulnerable Autonomous Bus,' which is scheduled to debut through expansion to autonomous districts, is a policy embodying Mayor Oh Se-hoon's administrative philosophy that the benefits of advanced transportation should first go to socially vulnerable groups. It is the third example following Seoul's representative autonomous transportation projects: the world's first late-night autonomous bus and the autonomous early-morning companion bus. Since December 2023, Seoul has introduced the world's first late-night autonomous service operating between Hapjeong Station and Dongdaemun Station, and in October this year, it plans to operate the 'Early Morning Autonomous Bus' for early-morning workers such as security guards and cleaners.

The first operation areas were selected through a public contest targeting all autonomous districts, with Dongdaemun-gu, Dongjak-gu, and Seodaemun-gu chosen as priorities. The service will operate mainly in transportation-disconnected and elderly-populated marginalized areas within these districts. This decision was made based on a comprehensive evaluation of the business plans proposed by each district, route appropriateness, vehicle operation suitability, and the districts' commitment.

In Dongdaemun-gu, the service will connect public transportation-vulnerable areas such as Jangan-dong, Jeonnong-dong, Cheongnyangni, and Kyung Hee Medical Center. In Dongjak-gu, it will serve residents experiencing inconvenience moving between Soongsil University and Chung-Ang University. In Seodaemun-gu, it will operate around the Hongjecheon Stream area, focusing on comprehensive social welfare centers and government offices, aligning with the purpose of supporting transportation-vulnerable individuals.

The project will be implemented through a collaborative system dividing roles between Seoul City and the autonomous districts. Seoul City will provide administrative and financial support, install essential infrastructure, and supervise safe operation. The autonomous districts will be responsible for route planning, vehicle and operator selection, and operation management, and will secure their own budgets for sustainable operation in the future. Seoul City will support each selected district with 420 million KRW for the first year of operation, totaling 1.26 billion KRW, and from the second year onward, will provide annual technology development support funds according to ordinances.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of Seoul City's Transportation Office, stated, "For autonomous transportation means to be established as a public transportation service, it is very important for citizens to feel familiar and actively use it." He added, "We will actively promote innovative projects to ensure that the benefits of advanced transportation policies first reach citizens who need transportation services, such as local residents and transportation-vulnerable groups."

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