South Korea's AI transformation in transport stuck at 'preparation stage,' experts say

Despite growing government emphasis on adopting AI in transport — including autonomous driving — experts say the actual progress of that transformation remains at a "preparation stage." Calls have emerged for more concrete action plans to move the sector forward.

Researchers at the Mobility and AI Convergence Research Center of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements released those findings Tuesday in a report titled "AI Transformation Maturity in South Korea's Transport Sector and Future Tasks," published in the institute's Land and Infrastructure Policy Brief.

AI is already in routine use across transport functions — from traffic demand forecasting and signal optimization to autonomous driving, public transit operations, and logistics and delivery efficiency — and is reshaping how the broader transport system operates and how decisions are made. Yet an expert survey found that the sector's overall AI transformation maturity still sits at the preparation stage, a stark contrast to the high awareness among experts of how important and urgent the transformation is.

Data infrastructure was assessed as relatively advanced, while regulatory frameworks and governance, organizational structures and specialized personnel, and risk and performance management capabilities were all rated as comparatively weak.

The researchers said the central government and local authorities should develop roadmaps and detailed action plans linking the national AI strategy with transport policy and projects, so the sector can evolve from the preparation stage to the application and operation stage. They also called for building data quality management, standardization and integration systems centered on transport operating agencies, establishing a lifecycle management framework connecting on-site AI model verification through to operational monitoring and risk management, and training interdisciplinary specialists.

"For AI transformation in the transport sector to move beyond technology development and pilot testing and translate into real operational improvements and better services, the common foundations — data, regulation and human resources — must be strengthened, while differentiated strategies tailored to the maturity, importance and urgency of each application area need to be developed," Associate Research Fellow Kim Su-ji and her colleagues said. "To that end, roles among the central government, local governments, transport operating agencies and research institutions must be clearly defined and a cooperative framework established."

Meanwhile, AI transformation in transport, including autonomous driving, is a priority policy area for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Minister Hong Ji-seon said in her inaugural address that she would not miss the chance to prepare ahead for the future, vowing to lead the way in next-generation mobility including autonomous vehicles, urban air mobility and delivery robots.