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Busan Designated as Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone for Naeseong–Jungdong Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced today (July 2) that the 10.4 km section of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor connecting Naeseong Intersection (Dongnae Station) and Haeundae-gu Office Eogeui Intersection (Haeundae Station on Metro Line 2) has been officially designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as an Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone.

With this designation, the City plans to introduce a new public transportation service utilizing autonomous driving technology to improve late-night public transportation convenience and address transit blind spots, thereby taking another step toward becoming a citizen-centered, future-oriented public transportation city.

The designated section is a dedicated bus lane, offering a road environment that allows autonomous vehicles to operate safely and efficiently. It is also adjacent to subway lines and late-night bus routes, offering high potential for integration between autonomous and existing public transit modes.

The City plans to implement an “Autonomous Public Transit Service”—one of the future mobility services that combines intelligent transportation systems with existing transit routes—on this corridor. The service will operate with Level 3 autonomous buses equipped with seating arrangements that prioritize passenger safety.

The vehicles will be electric buses with Level 3 autonomous technology and will have an onboard test operator. Each bus can accommodate up to 15 passengers. In certain areas, such as the Anrak Underpass, the test operator may manually intervene to ensure safety.

Operations are scheduled three times a week during late-night hours, from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM the following morning. Full-scale service is set to begin in 2026.

Prior to this, from November to December 2025, the City will conduct two months of test runs to assess the safety and operational feasibility of the autonomous technology.

Additionally, in September, autonomous buses will begin full operation in the Osiria Tourist Complex, providing citizens with an opportunity to experience the new service firsthand.

Before initiating service on the Naeseong–Jungdong BRT corridor, the City plans to hold a launch ceremony in July and deploy four autonomous buses in the Osiria area in September.

This citizen experience initiative is expected to enhance public understanding and familiarity with autonomous transit technologies.

Mayor Park Heong-joon remarked, “This designation is a significant step toward realizing future-oriented public transit services,” and added, “We will continue to expand autonomous driving services across different regions and time slots, creating ‘Busan, a leading city in future mobility’ where everyone can conveniently use public transportation anytime, anywhere.”