SUWON — The Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology (AICT), a research body jointly funded by Gyeonggi Province and Seoul National University, said on the 19th that it will run a pilot program for a remote-driving-based car-sharing service at Pangyo Techno Valley.
The pilot brings together Kia (000270), SUM, MobiOps and the Korea Road Traffic Authority. It is the first case in Korea of applying remote-driving technology to a car-sharing service on public roads. The test runs from October through December 2026, using Kia's PV5 van.
Remote driving allows an operator at a control center to steer a vehicle over 4G and 5G networks. When a user reserves a car through a dedicated app, a remote operator sends the vehicle to the requested location. The user then boards and drives it personally. After use, the car can be returned at any location of the user's choosing, and a remote operator moves it back to the depot.
The service targets employees of companies based at Pangyo Techno Valley. It will begin as a beta service for staff at the Gyeonggi Future Mobility Center, with access expanded in stages. Operating hours run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Two vehicles will be used in the pilot — one in service and one in reserve.
AICT expects the program to ease parking shortages and traffic congestion around Pangyo. It is aimed in particular at filling gaps in "last mile" transport to final destinations. Users do not need to visit a designated rental lot to pick up a car, while companies can reduce the burden of owning and managing corporate vehicles.
Gyeonggi Province and AICT are overseeing the project. Kia is providing the vehicles and managing the overall program. SUM is developing the remote-driving solution, MobiOps is handling service operations, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority is supporting a review of relevant regulations. KT, Umos One and the Gyeonggi Car Rental Business Association are also taking part as partner organizations.
Safety measures are built in. The vehicles are equipped with high-resolution cameras, vehicle control units, backup brakes and emergency stop systems. A triple communications network is being set up as a safeguard against network failures. Network stability along the test route will be checked before the service begins, and a safety driver will ride along during the initial beta phase.
AICT plans to use data gathered during the pilot to improve its remote-driving system and service model. It will also assess the program's effect on traffic and parking conditions in Pangyo and the potential for broader adoption of advanced mobility services.
"Remote driving is a new approach in which the vehicle comes directly to the user," AICT President Kim Yeon-sang said. "Through the Pangyo pilot, we will verify safety and operational feasibility and lay the groundwork for commercialization and expansion to other regions."