Lee Sangil: "First Bus Advanced for Student Commute"... Yongin Autonomous Bus Launches on the 27th

Yongin City Holds Test-Ride Event for Autonomous Bus Pilot Route 'Yongin A01'

Circular Route to Operate Between Hospital, Dongbaek Station, Emart, and Dongbaek Library

First Bus Moved Up by One Hour and Last Bus Extended by 30 Minutes, Reflecting Resident Feedback

Service Runs on Weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 15- to 30-Minute Intervals

Lee: "We Will Expand Services to Areas with Limited Public Transit for Students' Convenience"

"To make it more convenient for students in the Dongbaek area to get to school and to facilitate transfers to the light rail, we have moved up the first bus by one hour and extended the last bus run. We aim to ensure the pilot project is a success and will work to expand autonomous vehicle services to regions underserved by public transportation."

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin Special City, attended the test ride ceremony for the autonomous bus pilot route 'Yongin A01' on the 16th and gave a greeting. Provided by Yongin City

On the occasion of launching the autonomous bus pilot route, Sangil Lee, Mayor of Yongin Special City, expressed his commitment to prioritizing citizen convenience and expanding services.

Yongin Special City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 16th that a test-ride event for the autonomous bus pilot route 'Yongin A01' was held at Yongin Severance Hospital in Dongbaek-dong, Giheung-gu, and that full-scale public operations will begin on July 27 for the general public.

About 100 people, including Mayor Lee Sangil, Jeongsoon Jang, Chairperson of Yongin Special City Council, Jin’o Park, Director of Yongin Severance Hospital, city council members, hospital officials, and local residents, attended the event to experience the autonomous bus firsthand.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin Special City, boarded the 'Yongin A01' autonomous shuttle pilot route on the 16th and toured the entire operating section. Provided by Yongin City

During the ceremony, Mayor Lee said, "When I personally took the pilot ride last March, I determined that the bus was safe enough for citizens to use with peace of mind. We have continuously addressed any shortcomings since then, and I encourage many citizens to use the service. Please let us know if you encounter any inconvenience so we can continue to improve."

He added, "Taking into account the demand from high school students in the Dongbaek area and for transfers to the light rail, we have moved up the first bus to 7:30 a.m. by an hour and extended the last bus by 30 minutes. Our goal is to successfully establish this pilot project so that we can further expand autonomous transportation services to regions lacking public transportation."

On this day, Mayor Lee rode the entire route alongside an official from SUM Co., Ltd., the developer of the autonomous driving technology, thoroughly inspecting the processes for switching between autonomous and manual operation, the response system for the safety driver in unexpected situations, the bus stop docking method, and operating standards in severe weather such as heavy rain and snow. The priority was placed on verifying measures to ensure citizen safety rather than on technology demonstrations.

Sangil Lee, Mayor of Yongin Special City, attended the test ride ceremony for the autonomous bus pilot route 'Yongin A01' on the 16th and took a commemorative photo with the participants. Provided by Yongin City

'Yongin A01' is a circular route operating in the 'Yongin Dongbaek Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Zone,' designated in December 2024. The route starts at Yongin Severance Hospital, passes through Dongbaek Station, Emart, and Dongbaek Library, and then returns to the hospital.

The city began operation preparations for autonomous vehicles in July of last year, completing vehicle modification and installation of autonomous driving software and acquiring a temporary operation permit. After signing a business agreement with Yongin Severance Hospital in November 2023, trial runs have been underway since March this year, allowing the city to accumulate safety and operational data.

Particularly, resident feedback gathered during the trial runs led to adjustments in operating hours. Considering demand for student commuting and light rail transfers, the first bus now departs an hour earlier while the last bus has been extended by 30 minutes. Accordingly, two 14-seat autonomous buses will operate on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 15- to 30-minute intervals.

Image of the autonomous bus 'Yongin A01' in Yongin Special City. Provided by Yongin City

From July 20 to 24, Yongin City will host a test-ride event for a pre-recruited group of citizen participants. Starting July 27, services will be offered free of charge to the general public. The city plans to analyze the results of the pilot operation and is considering a transition to a paid service model in the future.

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