A heated bench installed at a bus stop in Nowon District, Seoul (Photo courtesy of Nowon District Office official blog)
SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul AI Foundation announced Wednesday it has identified 119 high-priority bus stops across the city for the installation of heated benches, aiming to alleviate discomfort for commuters during winter months.
The study, conducted at the request of Guro District, used a data-driven approach to maximize the effectiveness of the initiative. Analysts assessed factors such as bus usage patterns, distribution of mobility-challenged individuals, and average bus intervals to determine where heated seating would have the greatest impact.
Among the top-ranked areas were Guro 2-dong (21 stops), Oryu 2-dong (19), Sindorim-dong (18), and Gaebong 1-dong (17)—all of which showed particularly high demand for winter comfort amenities.
Analysis Results of Priority Areas for Heated Bus Bench Installation (Image courtesy of Seoul AI Foundation)
The study also found that heated benches were most frequently used by 700 to 1,000 passengers per day during rush hours at stops near business districts, and during midday at stops near hospitals and markets.
In contrast, some locations recorded fewer than 100 monthly users, prompting recommendations to adjust operating hours or reconsider installation at those sites.
Notably, average usage during late-night hours stood at just 3%, suggesting that energy-saving measures and time-specific operations could further optimize resource use.
Officials said the analysis provides not only a roadmap for Guro District but also a scalable, data-informed model for other municipalities with similar needs. The Seoul AI Foundation plans to share the findings with relevant agencies and discuss policy implementation moving forward.
The full report is available to the public on the foundation’s website at https://saif.or.kr/research-report.
“We will continue using data analytics to help embed practical, people-centered policies into everyday life,” said Kim Man-gi, president of the Seoul AI Foundation.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
