The self-driving bus running around Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul has been reborn as a tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign passengers. (Seoul Metropolitan Government’s official Facebook page)
By Park Hyeri
Riding self-driving buses in Seoul that travel along the capital’s Cheonggyecheon Stream from Sewoon Plaza to Gwangjang Market is now easier for foreign tourists.
This is part of a tourism initiative announced on March 20 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to promote the high-tech vehicles not only as a mode of transportation but also a tourist attraction.
The city reorganized the autonomous vehicle hailing app Tap to streamline the identity verification process for membership registration and added a feature allowing group reservation either at home or abroad. These measures resolved the obstacle faced by foreign users of needing authentication with a domestic telecom company to receive membership after downloading the app.
The app improved its ID authentication method to include text authentication by mobile phone for membership and allow users abroad to sign up in advance. Group reservations are available via email (cs@42dot.ai) but can be made through Tap from the second half of the year.
Visit Seoul, the city’s official tourism information website, will also open this month a section for self-driving buses with related data in English including routes, operating days and hours, and fares.
Launched in November 2022, the bus service had its route extended to Gwangjang Market (Cheonggye 5-ga) in November last year and has so far taken a combined 4,643 passengers.
Deputy Seoul Mayor for City Transport Yoon Jong Jang said, “We will keep advancing the operating methods and services of self-driving buses to ensure convenient rides by foreign tourists and allow them to fully experience what Seoul has to offer.”
hrhr@korea.kr
