South Korean ride-hailing app company SoCar launched an autonomous shuttle service on the island of Jeju this week in collaboration with local automotive technology startup RideFlux.
SoCar said it began operating a "demand driven" shuttle service on a 5km (3 miles) stretch of road on the local resort island on Monday, following a series of trials under more controlled conditions.
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The shuttle service links Jeju international airport and the company office in the main town.
A SoCar spokesperson said "until now trials had been carried out under test conditions, with restrictions placed on surrounding traffic. The new service will operate under normal road conditions".
The company said, while the vehicles are mostly self-driving, each vehicle will have a backup driver as an additional safety precaution.
The vehicles can carry a maximum of two passengers and the driver.
Last month the South Korean government said it would provide financial support worth up to KRW1.1trn (US$912m) to help local companies develop advanced "high vehicle automation" technology.
Earlier in May the Seoul metropolitan government agreed to allow 10 unmanned vehicles and robots to operate in the western part of the country's capital city.
