Starting on the 26th, autonomous taxis known as "Seoul Jayulcha" (Seoul Autonomous Cars) will begin operating late at night in the Gangnam area of Seoul.
While cities in countries like the U.S. and China have already been conducting pilot tests for autonomous taxis, this marks the first time such a transportation service is being introduced in South Korea.
"Seoul Jayulcha" will not operate 24 hours a day; it will be available only between 11 PM and 5 AM, and limited to the Gangnam and Seocho districts.
The vehicles in use are electric models, specifically the Korando Emotion by KG Mobility, with a total of three cars scheduled to be in operation.
Initially, Seoul plans to conduct a pilot operation on a 11.7-square-kilometer route between Bongeunsa-ro and Gaepo-ro until July next year, after which the service area will expand to include Sinsa, Nonhyeon, and Samseong-dong.
For the time being, rides will be free, but the service is expected to become a paid option after the trial period ends next year.
Using the service is simple—users can summon a taxi through the mobility app "KakaoT." By entering a departure and destination point within the pilot zone, the vehicle will select the shortest route in real-time and transport passengers.
For safety reasons, autonomous driving will only be available on major roads with four lanes or more. In certain areas like alleys or school zones, human drivers will take over. A test operator will accompany each ride, and the vehicle can accommodate up to three passengers.
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