Dongdaemun-gu to Launch First Autonomous Bus Service in Northeastern Seoul on October 14

Connecting 23 Stops Along a 15-Kilometer Route

Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Lee Pilhyoung) announced on September 29 that it will launch the first local autonomous bus service in the northeastern region. The opening ceremony will be held in front of the district office plaza on October 13, and full-scale operations will begin at 9 a.m. on October 14. This project is a future-oriented mobility innovation initiative promoted in cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Dongdaemun-gu. It is expected to serve as a starting point for transportation innovation as the district aims to become a smart city.

Dongdaemun-gu Local Autonomous Bus. Provided by Dongdaemun-gu.

The service route, named "Dongdaemun A01," connects Cheongnyangni Station at the center of the district with Jangandong, Jeonnongdong, the southern part of Dapsimnidong and Yongdudong, as well as the northern part of Cheongnyangnidong and Hoegidong. It links the northern and southern areas that are separated by the railway line.

The route covers a round-trip distance of 15 kilometers, operating a total of 23 stops from Janghanpyeong Station through Jeonnong Sageori, Cheongnyangni Station, the King Sejong Memorial Hall, and Kyung Hee University Medical Center. This is longer and has more stops than the 3.2-kilometer route in Dongjak-gu and the 6-kilometer route in Seodaemun-gu (scheduled for October), making it the largest-scale autonomous bus route in Seoul.

The service operates six times a day from Monday to Friday, running from 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., with intervals of 75 minutes between departures. There is no service at 12:45 p.m. due to the lunch break. Passengers are required to tap their transportation cards when boarding and alighting, and standing is not allowed. Real-time seat availability can be checked via the bus arrival information terminal (BIT) and the external LED seat indicator on the vehicle.

The fleet consists of two electric autonomous buses, which are modified Hyundai County Electric models equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving systems. A test driver is on board to switch to manual driving if necessary, and manual driving is mandatory in regulated zones such as school zones. A service manager also rides along to assist passengers and ensure safety.

The autonomous buses are equipped with four LiDAR sensors, eight cameras, and one front radar to detect surrounding objects and pedestrians, ensuring safety. Since the end of August, the district has been conducting test operations to collect data and improve service quality.

Lee Pilhyoung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, "The autonomous bus will be an important turning point in building future transportation infrastructure," and added, "As this is the first local autonomous bus service in the northeastern region, we ask for the active interest and participation of our residents."

Dongdaemun-gu established the foundation for this initiative by being selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Autonomous Bus for Transportation-Vulnerable Groups" pilot project in August last year, and by being designated as a "Pilot Zone for Autonomous Vehicles" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in July this year. The district plans to further expand its smart mobility system to create a comfortable and safe urban transportation environment.

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