• On Thursday, March 21, the app for the self-driving bus will undergo modifications to allow international tourists to book a ride and make a group booking.
• The bus-booking app will provide SMS authentication for international users, a simplified method compared to the previous domestic telecommunications authentication.
• It will be a creative approach of the local government to combine cutting-edge mobility technology and tourism. Seoul will continue to improve its operation and service quality.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, March 21, 2024 – On March 21, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced that the self-driving bus running from Cheonggye River to Gwangjang Market will expand its role to become a tourism product in the city.

The SMG has streamlined the sign-in process and personal identification on the self-driving bus application, making it easier for international tourists to book a ride online from outside Korea. Plus, Group bookings will be available.

• The designated ride-hailing app, TAP! will provide the SMS authentication option, which uses text messages on a smartphone for personal authorization. International users can download the app, create an ID, and book a ride even if they are still overseas.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to transform the self-driving bus into an iconic tourism product of Seoul, representing the city’s tourism and future transportation, to promote its charms further. In addition to this goal, the self-driving bus as a tourist product will be a great opportunity to showcase Seoul’s autonomous driving technology to the world.

• Within March, Visit Seoul, the official website for tourism in Seoul, will provide detailed information on the driverless public bus. Information, including bus routes, operation days and hours, and bus fares will be delivered in English.

Where to Find Information: “Visit Seoul” webpage → Travel Information → Smart & Safe Seoul Travel → Autonomous-driving Shuttle

> Visit Seoul pages (https://english.visitseoul.net/)