‘Autonomous Driving in Progress.’

On the morning of the 23rd, the 'Cheonggye A01' autonomous bus (pictured) was operating along Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. The electronic display above the seats inside the bus prominently displayed this message. The small bus, which can accommodate about 10 passengers, moved smoothly like a monorail, and the display showed real-time information on surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signals. Outside the windows, citizens turned their heads curiously or took photos with their mobile phones.

● First Operation of Cheonggyecheon Autonomous Bus

The Seoul Metropolitan Government began operating autonomous shuttle buses without a driver's seat or steering wheel in the Cheonggyecheon area from this day. This marks the first time an unmanned autonomous bus is regularly operated in Seoul.

The Cheonggye A01 route runs a 4.8km round trip from Cheonggye Plaza in Jung-gu to Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, with two vehicles stopping at a total of 11 stations in both directions. It operates 11 times a day at 30-minute intervals from 10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. on weekdays. Apart from the test driver, up to eight passengers can be seated inside. For safety reasons, standing is not allowed.

During a reporter's ride, most of the operation was conducted in autonomous mode. However, in school zones or senior protection areas, the accompanying test driver took over manual driving temporarily. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce fully unmanned autonomous buses without test drivers from the second half of next year.

The actual driving speed is about 20-25 km/h, but there were moments when it was difficult to maintain balance without wearing a seatbelt. This was due to instances where pedestrians or bicycles on the roadside were mistakenly recognized as obstacles in the vehicle's path, causing sudden stops. This is an area that requires improvement. A representative from the autonomous driving company 'Autonomous A2Z,' which manufactured the bus, stated, "The Cheonggyecheon area is a high-difficulty zone for autonomous driving due to illegally parked vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians being mixed together," and added, "We are advancing technology to respond to various variables."

The Cheonggye A01 can be used for free until it becomes a paid service in the second half of next year. Even after the service becomes paid, unlimited use will be possible with Seoul's transportation pass, the 'Climate Companion Card.' Transfer discounts with subways and city buses will also be applied.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce night operations and gradually expand the operation area to establish autonomous buses as a representative tourist product of Cheonggyecheon. Jangkwon Yeo, Director of Transportation at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "You can experience advanced domestic autonomous driving technology at Cheonggyecheon, a landmark in Seoul," and added, "We will continue to showcase advanced autonomous driving services throughout Seoul to prove the global competitiveness of domestic autonomous driving technology."

● Expansion to Dongjak, Dongdaemun, and Seodaemun

Autonomous public transportation is expanding not only in Cheonggyecheon but also throughout Seoul. In Dongjak-gu, the 'Dongjak A01' route has been in operation since July this year. It runs a 1.62km round trip from the main gate of Soongsil University in Sangdo-dong to the rear gate of Chung-Ang University in Heukseok-dong. The 14-seater small bus operates at approximately 20-minute intervals from 10 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. on weekdays, receiving positive responses from local residents and students.

In the second half of this year, autonomous village buses will be newly deployed in Dongdaemun-gu and Seodaemun-gu. The local companion autonomous buses will be developed into customized transportation services by allowing each district to directly manage the operation plans and station arrangements.

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