Incheon City to operate AI-powered autonomous buses that citizens can ride in the second half of next year... in Cheongna, Yeongjong and Songdo

【Financial News, Incheon = Reporter Han Gap-su】 Incheon City will introduce AI-powered autonomous buses on the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) route between Cheongna and Seoul’s Gangseo district in the second half of 2027. The city is also pursuing autonomous shuttle services for commuters and tourists in Yeongjong and Songdo.
Park Seong-sun, director of Incheon City’s Transportation Policy Bureau, said at a press briefing on the 13th, “We will begin preparing for both projects next year and operate the services so that citizens can ride them in the second half of the year.”
One large electric autonomous bus will initially be deployed on the Cheongna–Gangseo route. It will run late at night, departing from Cheongna at around 11 p.m. and traveling to Gangseo in Seoul. The bus will be added to the fleet rather than replacing the existing Route 7700 bus. The city plans to add one bus each year through 2030 and invest 5 billion won in the project over four years.
The city plans to operate electric buses autonomously on the Cheongna–Gangseo route, with safety personnel on board to help prevent accidents and take other safety measures.
In Yeongjong, the city will introduce two commuter shuttles on the 9.7-kilometer route between Haneul City and Unseo Station. In Songdo, it will introduce one tourism and connecting shuttle on a 3.7-kilometer route around Central Park. A total of 5.2 billion won will be invested in the projects in both areas from 2027 through 2030.
The city said the shuttle services in the two areas will address travel demand in places and at times when public transportation is inconvenient, and that it will consider the possibility of expanding the services based on the results of trial operations.
However, securing the budget and completing administrative procedures must come first for the projects to proceed. The autonomous bus for the Cheongna–Gangseo BRT requires consultations among Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, followed by a process to obtain a new designation as a demonstration zone. The city plans to pursue the designation in the first half of 2027 and aims to begin operations in the second half.
Park Seong-sun, director of Incheon City’s Transportation Policy Bureau, pointed to cases in which autonomous driving services had been suspended because of financial problems and other factors. He said the city would use this project as an opportunity to stop delaying their introduction and push ahead in earnest.
The city is considering allocating a separate budget for the Yeongjong and Songdo shuttles and entrusting their operation to Incheon Technopark. However, with next year’s budget still being drawn up, whether funding can be secured is expected to be key to moving ahead with the projects.
Incheon City has been laying the institutional groundwork for introducing autonomous public transportation. In December 2023, it received designation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for four autonomous vehicle demonstration zones, and in July 2024 it enacted a related ordinance. The ministry’s “2030 Mobility Innovation and Growth Roadmap,” announced in February this year, also set a goal of commercializing Level 4 autonomous driving by 2027.
Park said, “We are envisioning a service that departs from Cheongna at around 11 p.m. and arrives in Gangseo, Seoul, about an hour later.” He added, “If the trial operation confirms safety and a positive response from users, we plan to gradually increase the number of trips.”

[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter