Voluntary ride-sharing will become legitimate in South Korea in the first half in latest deregulation measure, said Hong Nam-ki, deputy prime minister Wednesday.

The move can ease fight over cabs during peak night time and reduce fares as well as aiding the taxi industry struggling in competition with app-based ride-hailing platform operators.

The government will allow taxi meter apps based on global positioning system (GPS) and ease regulations for franchise cab-hailing platform service providers.

In order to support the development of self-driving technology, it will extend application of precise road map within this year.

At the state-run industrial complexes including a hydrogen complex in Changwon and healthcare complex in Osong, the government will provide companies with affordable rent and customized services. It will also expand industrial-educational cooperation campuses.

Hong said the government will come up with a technology roadmap for 2023 to 2035 to help the urban air mobility (UAM) industry based on eco-friendly and low-noise air vehicles to take off from 2035.

The roadmap will focus on developing 118 technologies in five sectors – development and production of planes, operation and transportation, public service design and traffic control, management and support and establishment of market ecosystem, based on a principle to ensure safety, acceptability and economic feasibility.

The government will enact an UAM special law by 2023 and pursue research and development (R&D) projects for four government ministries of land, industry, SMEs and ICT as well as Korea Meteorological Administration.

By Pulse

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