Kakao Mobility launches autonomous ride service in Seoul

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility, the transportation arm of South Korea’s internet giant Kakao, has introduced a new autonomous ride service in Seoul’s Sangam area, integrating self-driving technology into everyday transportation.

The service, part of the Kakao T platform, offers what is known as Demand Responsive Transport, or DRT — a flexible form of public transit that adjusts its routes and schedules based on passenger demand. Unlike traditional buses, DRT vehicles stop only at designated stations within a defined service zone.

Users can request, board, and pay for rides through the Kakao T app, selecting routes, stops, and departure times, and tracking vehicle locations and waiting times in real time.

Kakao Mobility developed the system using data and operational experience from pilot programs in Seoul’s Gangnam area, the city of Sejong, and Jeju Island. Since being named a private operator for Seoul’s autonomous vehicle transport platform in September last year, the company has been working to fold autonomous services into its existing app-based mobility ecosystem.

The new service, operated in partnership with the self-driving technology company SWM, will run on the A02 route in the Sangam area in Mapo-gu. Two vehicles, including one equipped for wheelchair access, will serve the route.

The pilot service will be free of charge during its initial testing phase, operating on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. near Sangam DMC Station.

Kakao Mobility said it plans to gradually expand the service to rural, suburban, and aging communities, where public transportation is often limited.

“We hope more citizens will experience the convenience of autonomous DRT through the Kakao T app,” Ryu Gung-seon, the company’s chief executive, said in a press release.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.