Seoul makes autonomous bus system more accessible to tourists

Booking Seoul's self-driving bus system just became easier for tourists visiting the capital.

Self-driving buses depart from a street near Cheonggye Plaza in downtown Seoul on Nov. 24, 2022. [YONHAP]

Booking Seoul's self-driving bus system just became easier for tourists visiting the capital.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that foreign tourists will be able to book the service through a simpler process starting from Thursday.

The buses travel from the Cheonggye Stream to Gwangjang Market in central Seoul.

Previously, the reservation service was only accessible after users logged onto the TAP! application and verified a domestic phone number. This restricted foreigners without a Korean phone number from accessing the service.

Now, users can verify themselves through text messages sent to their numbers, allowing those living outside the capital book the service in advance. International numbers can be used for verification.

Group bookings will also be available on the application in the second half of the year.

Before group bookings become available on the app, requests can only be made by sending an email to cs@42dot.ai.

A new tab for autonomous-driving shuttles will be opened on Visit Seoul this month providing information in English. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

The update comes as part of a plan to promote tourism by inviting visitors to experience the capital’s autonomous driving transportation, the city government said.

The city government also plans to deliver related information in English by creating a new tab called the "autonomous-driving shuttle" on the Visit Seoul website within this month.

Since its launch in November 2022, the self-driving bus traveling along the Cheonggye Stream has been used by a total of 4,643 people.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]