South Korea has expanded autonomous vehicle testing zones to cover all highways, allowing self-driving freight trucks to operate across the country.
On March 5, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced that autonomous vehicle testing areas, previously limited to four highway routes totaling 332.3 km, will now extend to all 44 highway routes spanning 5,224 km. These zones grant regulatory exemptions for testing and commercial operations.
The decision follows feedback from the autonomous driving industry, which requested more flexible transport routes based on traffic conditions and demand. In response, officials convened a committee on March 4 to approve the expansion. In addition to the highway routes, 143 km of connector roads between 19 highway interchanges and logistics centers were designated for autonomous testing.
MOLIT addressed safety concerns by emphasizing that highways lack pedestrians and traffic signals, making them suitable for autonomous driving. Officials also cited Korea Expressway Corporation’s safety management expertise.
The expansion paves the way for commercial autonomous freight transport. The government has recently eased regulatory requirements, allowing companies to apply for licenses more easily. MOLIT also plans to strengthen safety measures, including emergency response protocols for autonomous vehicle incidents.