Driverless Robotaxis to Hit the Streets in Seoul Starting November

Seoul Life to Change in the Second Half of the Year
A Guide to Deregulation, New Facilities, and More

Driverless 'Level 4 Robotaxis' will begin operating in Seoul. Village buses can be used for up to two hours at the base fare, and elevators and monorails will be installed in hilly areas instead of stairs.

On July 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in its guidebook, 'Seoul Life Changes in the Second Half of 2026,' that it will implement a total of 60 projects, including five regulatory reforms, 32 initiatives to improve citizen life, the opening of 17 new facilities, and six events or festivals.

The most notable policy among the regulatory reforms is the 'Expansion of Village Bus Ride Time.' Previously, the maximum usage time after boarding a village bus was one hour, and if there were delays due to traffic congestion or inclement weather, passengers had to pay an additional fare. Starting this month, the usage time has been extended to two hours, which is expected to ease the additional fare burden for users.

The criteria for selecting tenants for long-term lease housing have also been improved. Previously, points were deducted if the applicant had a past contract. Now, if the number of household members changes due to marriage, childbirth, caring for elderly parents, or death, and the applicant reapplies for a different size of long-term lease housing, there will be no penalty.

From October, the 'Multi-Child Happiness Card,' which could previously be issued only if a parent was the head of the household, can be issued as long as the parent and child are in the same household, regardless of whether the parent is the head. In the 'Seoul Housing Voucher' program, which aims to ease monthly rent burdens for low-income households, the exception for student households has been removed, allowing low-income university and graduate students to benefit as well. As of June this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has pursued a total of 191 regulatory innovation tasks.

The city will also strengthen support closely tied to citizens' daily lives. The 'Seoul Mind Convenience Store,' which allows citizens to interact while using simple food items such as ramen and health devices, will be expanded from four to 25 locations. The 'Wrist Doctor 9988' application will enhance functions such as weight management and personalized prescriptions starting in October. The aim is to provide more comprehensive welfare and health management services in daily life.

From November, 'Level 4 Robotaxis,' which can drive autonomously without a human driver, will be officially introduced. They will operate on weekdays in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, and in the initial phase, a safety manager will be seated in the passenger seat. Level 0 indicates 'no automation,' while Level 5 means 'full automation.'

In addition, by the end of the year, elevators and monorails will be installed in place of stairs in five hilly downtown areas, including Hwagok-dong, Bongcheon-dong, Junggok-dong, Sungin-dong, and Sindang-dong, to improve mobility. The city will also expand the use of 'Underpass Control Notification Service,' which provides detour directions via navigation in case of flooding risk, and 'AI-based Smart CCTV,' which automatically detects people entering restricted riverside areas in real time. These advanced technologies are expected to enhance citizens' safety and convenience by integrating with daily life and disaster response.

New public facilities will also be established. 'Han River Bicycle Parks' will be created near the Ttukseom and Jamsil Han River bus piers, and the soccer field at Ttukseom Han River Park will be resurfaced from sand to artificial turf. In October, a new media art and K-culture-based exhibition space will open in unused underground space beneath Seoul Plaza. The 'Fun Station' program, which combines unique content with subway stations, will expand from six locations to 18 this year.

Major festivals and events will also continue in the second half of the year. The 'Autumn Festival,' opening on September 18, will present more than 200 pieces of content over 74 days, while the 'Winter Festival,' starting December 4, will run for 59 days. Popular events that received positive reviews last year, such as the Gwanghwamun Market, Seoul Light, and Seoul Lantern Festival, will be further strengthened and expanded to Han River parks.

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