Cheonggyecheon Autonomous Bus... to Begin 'Nighttime Service' in Jongno and Euljiro

"Cheonggye A01" to begin nighttime service on October 22

Autonomous bus with no driver's seat or steering wheel

4.8-kilometer round trip from Cheonggye Plaza to Gwangjang Market

Supporting the growth of Seoul's nighttime economy

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will begin operating autonomous buses at night in the Cheonggyecheon area, connecting downtown attractions such as the Cheonggyecheon walking path and the neighborhood shopping districts of Jongno and Euljiro.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on October 20 that it would launch nighttime service for the Cheonggyecheon autonomous bus, "Cheonggye A01," to make it easier for residents to get around at night and connect downtown tourist attractions with local businesses.

The autonomous bus "Cheonggye A01," operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul Metropolitan Government

This is the first time in South Korea that autonomous buses without steering wheels or driver's seats have been regularly operated at night. The city conducted nighttime test runs from August 13 to 31 and took extensive measures to ensure residents could use the service with confidence, including having outside experts assess its safety in advance.

The "Cheonggye A01" autonomous bus route, which is launching nighttime service, runs a 4.8-kilometer round-trip loop from Cheonggye Plaza to Cheonggye 3-ga (Sewoon Shopping Center) and Cheonggye 5-ga (Gwangjang Market). Two vehicles will run the route, stopping at a total of 11 stops in both directions.

Service will begin at 7 p.m. on October 22, with nine trips a day at 30-minute intervals from Cheonggye Plaza. The last bus will depart Cheonggye Plaza at 11 p.m. Search for "Cheonggye A01" on Naver Map or KakaoMap to find stop locations and real-time service information.

Cheonggyecheon is one of Seoul's signature downtown tourist attractions, linked to attractions and commercial districts around Gwanghwamun, Jongno and Euljiro. Residents and tourists continue to visit the area after work to take walks, dine and sightsee. Near the route are a variety of attractions and places to eat, including Gwanghwamun Square and Bosingak Pavilion, the restaurant streets of Jonggak and Gwancheol-dong, the Euljiro commercial district and Gwangjang Market. Visitors are expected to enjoy a more vibrant evening downtown by combining sightseeing, dining and shopping, for example, taking a walk along Cheonggyecheon and then riding the autonomous bus from a nearby stop to another attraction.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government expects nighttime service to do more than offer an autonomous-driving experience or convenient transportation. It sees the launch as an opportunity to connect the attractions and commercial districts centered around Cheonggyecheon along a single transit corridor.

Meanwhile, as part of the changes to nighttime service, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will end the existing daytime service and plans to introduce fares in stages as it works to establish autonomous buses as a regular form of public transportation. Service will be free during the initial period of nighttime operations, with no fare charged, so residents can try it without concern about the cost. However, passengers must tap their transit cards when boarding.

"Nighttime service on the Cheonggyecheon autonomous bus will allow residents to experience future transportation technology in their daily lives. It will also conveniently connect Cheonggyecheon's night views with nearby areas such as Jonggak and Euljiro, offering a new way to get around and enjoy an even richer evening in Seoul," said Yeo Janggwon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Transportation Office.

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