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The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 29th that it will start operating autonomous vehicles as a means of transportation in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu. This is the first step in opening the era of autonomous vehicles.
From the 30th, Sangam self-driving cars will run three passenger car-type cars in DMC station, apartment complexes and office areas. Passengers can board the vehicle by calling the vehicle through a smartphone application (app). By the end of December, three additional self-driving buses circulating at DMC Station, World Cup Stadium, and World Cup Park will start operating in turn, increasing to six in total.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government held the ‘Autonomous Vehicle Paid Transportation Proclamation Ceremony’ at the S-Plex Center Plaza in Sangam-dong on the same day to announce the beginning of the era of autonomous vehicles used by citizens as a means of transportation. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon rides an autonomous car as the ‘No. 1 passenger’ and travels about 2.9 km from the S-Plex Center in Sangam-dong to the front of the Korean Traditional Music Broadcasting.
At the proclamation ceremony, △42dot △SWM, two companies that are the first to start paid transportation for autonomous vehicles in Sangam, will receive a business license (limited transportation license for paid transportation for autonomous vehicles). Mayor Oh Se-hoon awarded 42dot CEO Song Chang-hyeon the first license and SWM CEO Kim Ki-hyuk the second license respectively.
To use the autonomous vehicle, download and use the smartphone app ‘TAP!’. It operates on a reservation system until the 4th of the next month, and citizens can make a reservation from the 6th of the same month.
Self-driving cars will be operated free of charge for about a month and will be converted to paid transportation in January next year. During the free service period, Seoul and other cities will collect various opinions from citizens and experts to supplement and improve services, and after final verification, they plan to start paid operation in January next year.
In accordance with related ordinances, the usage fee is expected to be 1,200 won for buses and 3,000 won for self-driving cars after a resolution of the ‘Seoul City Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration Operation District Steering Committee’. It is expected that a lower rate will be charged depending on the autonomy of each paid transportation company.
Seoul plans to introduce and operate more than 50 autonomous vehicles by 2026 in the Sangam area alone. In the future, Seoul will become a standard autonomous driving model city.
Mayor Oh said, “Autonomous driving is no longer a technology of the distant future, but is already close to our side.” He continued, “From today, autonomous vehicles will start operating as a means of transportation in Sangam-dong. We plan to operate self-driving buses and expand the operation of autonomous vehicles such as robo taxis in Gangnam in cooperation with private companies,” he added.
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