Seoul to Launch Nation’s First Driverless Autonomous Shuttle at Cheonggyecheon (Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The city of Seoul announced Sunday that it will introduce South Korea’s first fully driverless autonomous shuttle as early as late September, marking a milestone in the country’s push toward next-generation urban mobility.
The 11-seat shuttle, developed by domestic start-up Autonomous AtoZ, was built from the ground up for self-driving purposes. Distinctively, it has no driver’s seat or steering wheel; a safety officer will ride aboard but will not intervene in operations. The vehicle features wraparound seating, a large display showing navigation data, and a wheelchair lift.
Two shuttles will circulate along a 4.8-kilometer loop around Cheonggyecheon Stream, one of Seoul’s busiest tourist destinations, running from Cheonggye Plaza to Gwangjang Market and back.
The service will operate on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but not on weekends or holidays when the road becomes pedestrian-only. Rides will be free during the trial phase, with fares later to be integrated into Seoul’s transit card system.
Driverless Shuttle to Begin Weekday Service Along Cheonggyecheon in Seoul (Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government)
The city began test runs on August 22 and plans to open the service to the public after safety verifications in late September. Officials say the project will not only give citizens “a glimpse of future public transportation” but also help attract more visitors to the Cheonggyecheon area and support local businesses.
Seoul intends to upgrade the system to enable night operations, expand routes, and eventually transition to completely unmanned service. Autonomous AtoZ, meanwhile, is eyeing exports to overseas markets, particularly in the Middle East, using the Seoul deployment as a proving ground.
“This is the first driverless autonomous shuttle developed with purely domestic technology,” said Yeo Jang-kwon, head of Seoul’s Transportation Bureau. “We will ensure safe conditions for passengers while advancing this technology into a world-class mobility service.”
The city has operated autonomous buses along Cheonggyecheon since 2022, but those vehicles included driver’s seats for emergencies. The new shuttles represent the next step in phasing out human control altogether.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
