Seoul's Cheonggyecheon autonomous bus to start night service on Oct 22
In short
The Seoul city government said on 20 October that the autonomous bus Cheonggye A01 (청계 A01) will begin night service on 22 October at 7 pm, ending its daytime runs. Two vehicles will make nine runs a day along a 4.8 km round-trip route, free of charge at first.
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Seoul city said on 20 October that the autonomous bus Cheonggye A01 will start night service at 7 pm on 22 October along Cheonggyecheon. The city described the regular night operation of an autonomous bus with no steering wheel or driver's seat as the first in Korea. The existing daytime service ends with the change. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The route runs from Cheonggye Plaza through Cheonggye 3-ga (Sewoon Sangga) to Cheonggye 5-ga (Gwangjang Market), a round trip of 4.8 km. Two vehicles circulate and stop at 11 stops in both directions. The bus leaves Cheonggye Plaza every 30 minutes from 7 pm, nine times a day, and the last bus departs at 11 pm. Stop locations and real-time operating information can be found by searching for Cheonggye A01 on Naver Map and KakaoMap. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newsis reported that each vehicle carries up to 8 passengers and one test driver. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the test driver is aboard at all times in case of an emergency. Newsis reported that service runs on weekdays from 7 pm to 11:50 pm, that one run takes 50 minutes, and that the bus does not run on weekends and holidays. Kyunghyang Shinmun likewise said it will operate only on weekday nights. [ 2 , 3 ]
Night service is free in the initial period, but passengers must tap a transit card when boarding. The city plans to introduce fares in stages so that the autonomous bus becomes a regular public transport option. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newsis reported that the planned adult fare is 1,400 won. Yonhap reported that the city is moving toward fares after about a year of free demonstration from August last year to September this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Before the launch, the city ran a trial night operation from 13 to 31 August and checked safety with outside experts, according to Asia Economy, Newsis, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. Newsis said the city had run the bus free of charge for about a year, from August last year to last month. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The city aims to link tourist sites and shopping districts around Cheonggyecheon. Near the route are Gwanghwamun Square, Bosingak, the Jonggak and Gwancheol-dong restaurant street, the Euljiro commercial area and Gwangjang Market. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the city pursued night service as part of its night-economy priority for the 9th elected term, while Newsis and Hankook Ilbo said it is meant to support a Seoul-style night economy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Yeo Jang-gwon (여장권), head of the Seoul transport office, said the night service would offer a new travel experience that goes beyond experiencing future transport technology in daily life and lets people enjoy Seoul's nights more fully. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The city says the night service is meant to link tourist sites and shopping districts around Cheonggyecheon and to move the autonomous bus toward regular public transport. Outlets report that fares are planned in stages after the free initial period.
Key facts
- Seoul city said on 20 October that night service of the Cheonggye A01 autonomous bus starts at 7 pm on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The route runs from Cheonggye Plaza via Cheonggye 3-ga (Sewoon Sangga) to Cheonggye 5-ga (Gwangjang Market), 4.8 km round trip, with two vehicles and 11 stops in both directions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The bus departs Cheonggye Plaza every 30 minutes, nine times a day from 7 pm; the last bus leaves at 11 pm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Service is free at first, but passengers must tap a transit card when boarding. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Daytime service ends with the switch to night service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The city said running a bus with no steering wheel or driver's seat on a regular night schedule is the first in Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Each vehicle carries up to 8 passengers and one test driver, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newsis. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Seoul city announced that Cheonggye A01 night service begins at 7 pm on 22 October, with nine runs a day at 30-minute intervals from Cheonggye Plaza and a last departure at 11 pm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The existing daytime service ends with the switch to night service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A trial night run took place from 13 to 31 August, and the city checked safety with outside experts. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Night service is free in the initial period, with a transit-card tap required, and the city plans to introduce fares in stages. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- When fares will start. Outlets say the city plans phased fares but none gives a start date.
- The planned adult fare of 1,400 won. Only Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newsis report this figure.
- Whether the bus runs only on weekdays. Kyunghyang Shinmun says night service is on weekdays only and Newsis says it does not run on weekends and holidays; the other outlets do not say.
- That this is the first regular night service of a bus with no steering wheel or driver's seat in Korea. This is the city's own description, relayed by the outlets.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Outlets publish Seoul city's announcement of night service for the Cheonggye A01 bus. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes its report on the night service. [ 5 ]
- First night service departs Cheonggye Plaza on 22 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Last bus of the day departs Cheonggye Plaza. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]