On Oct. 1, 2026, the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a three-year agreement with Hyundai Motor and the Association of Seoul Bus Transport. SBS News reports that the deal covers commercializing Level 4 autonomous city buses and building an industrial ecosystem around them. Seoul’s goal is 500 autonomous buses by 2030, partly by replacing aging buses.
What exactly did Seoul agree to?
SBS lists the steps. From 2027 to 2028, the partners develop dedicated autonomous buses, share AI learning data, run citizen demonstrations and complete certification. Full-scale deployment begins in 2029, and the fleet reaches 500 in 2030.
| Period | Planned step | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 to 2028 | Develop buses, demonstrations, certification | SBS News |
| 2029 | Full-scale deployment begins | SBS News |
| 2030 | Target of 500 buses | SBS News |
Who builds and runs the buses?
Hyundai will develop, build, supply and maintain 11-meter dedicated buses with electronic controls, redundancy and cybersecurity features. The bus association will convert existing buses and help supply test drivers, control operators, garages and charging facilities. Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Seoul, Hyundai and the bus industry will become “one team,” and that expansion will proceed step by step on the assumption of safe operations.
Why It Matters to You
If you ride Seoul’s buses, you won’t see the 500-bus fleet for a few years. Citizen demonstrations are planned for 2027 to 2028, full-scale deployment for 2029, and the fleet target for 2030. The nearest thing available now is the overnight routes described below, which aim to serve workers such as street cleaners, security guards and market employees who start before regular buses and subways.
What runs in Seoul today?
Seoul already runs overnight autonomous bus routes. The Korea Times reported in January 2026 that the A160 leaves Dobongsan Station at 3:30 a.m. once a day and travels about 50 kilometers to Yeongdeungpo Station. Three more routes, the A148, A504 and A741, were due to begin in the following weeks.
The Korea Times said the A160 was moving from free rides to a paid model with a base fare of 1,200 won, about $0.83, plus an early-bird discount. It also said Seoul’s current autonomous buses mostly operate at Level 3, with human staff who can take over driving. So no, today’s buses aren’t driverless.
What’s the catch?
The 500-bus figure is a target, not a purchase order. The agreement is a business pact, and the sources don’t say how it will be funded. The 1,200 won fare applies to the existing A160 route as reported in January, and the reports don’t say what the new fleet will charge. The 2030 plan also depends on Level 4 certification that has not been completed. No safety data from Seoul’s autonomous bus routes was in the reports we reviewed.
Sources
- SBS News: Seoul to introduce 500 self-driving buses by 2030 (Oct 1, 2026)
- The Korea Times: Seoul moves to broaden use of autonomous buses to fill late-night transit gaps (Jan 6, 2026)