"Real-Time Bus Locations to BTS Concert Now Available on KakaoMap"

KakaoMap Launches Seoul Ultra-Precise Bus Pilot

Ultra-Precise Bus Locations Provided on Over 420 Routes for One Week

Real-Time Information on Road Closures, Detours, and Non-Stop Operations on Concert Day

Kakao announced that, starting from March 16, it will provide ultra-precise bus location information on about 420 Seoul city bus routes for one week through its map service KakaoMap. This ultra-precise bus service in Seoul will operate as a pilot program and will be applied to major city bus routes, excluding airport buses and village buses.

This pilot service is being launched ahead of the "BTS The Comeback Live｜ARIRANG" concert, scheduled to take place around Gwanghwamun Square on March 21. With a large number of visitors expected to visit Gwanghwamun for the concert, the service aims to help citizens use public transportation more efficiently.

Kakao announced that starting from the 16th, it will provide ultra-precise bus location information on over 420 city bus routes in Seoul for one week through its map service, KakaoMap. Kakao

KakaoMap and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Advanced Transportation Division have been building and verifying an ultra-precise bus data production system for about two years, and are currently discussing its official introduction in the second half of this year.

For this pilot, the interval for transmitting location information has been reduced, allowing users to check the actual movement of buses more accurately. Even if the bus intervals are long or there are frequent changes in arrival times due to traffic congestion, controls, or detours, users will be able to pinpoint the bus’s current location. In cases where a bus is delayed, the system is also expected to help users find alternative routes.

On the day of the BTS concert, guidance for safe movement will also be provided. KakaoMap users can check road closures, congested areas, temporary restrooms, and on-site medical stations near the concert venue. If subway trains skip stops, relevant information will be provided on the detailed page for each subway station. Information about detours and skipped stops will also be available on bus stop pages and the public transportation route-finding service.

Yeo Jangkwon, policy chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Transportation Office, said, "Seoul is enhancing citizen safety and convenience by providing transportation information based on real-time data. On the day of the Gwanghwamun concert, we also plan to minimize inconvenience by quickly providing accurate bus location and traffic information."

Lee Changmin, head of Kakao’s Map Business Development Team, stated, "We will work closely with Seoul City to ensure the thorough provision of transportation information and to help citizens travel more safely and conveniently. Through this pilot, we will assess the effectiveness of ultra-precise transportation data and continue to advance urban transportation information services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.