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Busan Metropolitan City to Launch Free Trial Operation of Autonomous Buses at Osiria Tourist Complex Starting Tomorrow (September 16)

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that autonomous buses will begin a trial operation tomorrow (September 16) for approximately three months, until the end of December, at the Osiria Tourist Complex. The service is designed for both citizens and tourists and will officially commence in January 2026.

The buses will run on weekdays from 9:45 a.m. to 5:55 p.m., with intervals coordinated to match train arrivals at Osiria Station. Departing from the autonomous bus stop in front of Osiria Station on the Donghae Line, the service will operate along two routes within the East Busan Tourist Complex.

During the trial period, rides will be free of charge. Once regular service begins next year, the fare will be aligned with the standard city bus fare.

The vehicles are Level 3 autonomous electric buses*, with a total of four buses in operation. Each bus can accommodate up to 15 passengers.

* Level 3 autonomous driving: Conditional automation, where the vehicle can operate without driver intervention on highways or under specific conditions.

For passenger safety, a test driver and a safety manager will always be onboard to respond to emergencies. In certain sections, manual driving will be used in parallel to ensure safety.

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Busan Metropolitan City plans to verify the technological safety of the system using operational data collected during the trial period, while also reflecting citizen feedback to improve service quality. Regular operations are scheduled to begin in January 2026.

The Osiria Tourist Complex was designated as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone in 2022, and since then, national funds have been secured to build the necessary infrastructure. Following the opening of the line on July 10, internal test runs have been carried out continuously.

Hwang Hyun-cheol, Director General of the Transportation Innovation Bureau, stated, “This trial operation of autonomous buses is an important first step toward Busan’s future public transportation services. Through this pilot, we aim to enhance mobility access for citizens and tourists, and to establish a future-oriented public transportation model based on autonomous driving technology. Ultimately, we will shape Busan into a ‘leading city of future mobility’ where everyone can travel conveniently, anytime and anywhere.”