Kakao said on March 16 that its location-based life platform KakaoMap will work with the Seoul city government on emergency measures to improve citizens' mobility and strengthen safety ahead of BTS' comeback concert.

Starting on March 16, KakaoMap will provide ultra-precise bus location information for about 420 Seoul city bus routes for a week. Seoul's ultra-precise bus service will be run as a pilot and applied to major city bus routes excluding airport buses and village buses.

The pilot is designed to help people use public transport safely as many visitors are expected to crowd the area around Gwanghwamun Square for the 'BTS Comeback Live: Arirang' concert on March 21. KakaoMap and the Future Advanced Transport Division at the Seoul transport office have built a system to produce and verify ultra-precise bus data over about 2 years, and are discussing a formal launch in the second half of this year.

In the pilot, the transmission cycle for location data has been shortened so users can more accurately check a vehicle's actual route. Even when arrival times change frequently due to long dispatch intervals, traffic congestion, controls or detours, users can accurately check a bus' current location, which is expected to significantly improve convenience. It is also expected to help search for alternative routes.

On the day of the concert, KakaoMap will also provide various guidance for safe travel. Users will be able to check road control sections, congested areas, temporary toilets and on-site clinics near the venue on KakaoMap.

If subway trains run through without stopping, users will be able to receive related information on the detailed page for the relevant station. Users can also check detours and non-stop operations on bus stop pages and the public transport route-finding service, allowing them to plan routes more conveniently.

Yeo Jang-kwon (여장권), head of the Seoul transport office, said Seoul is improving public safety and mobility convenience by providing traffic information based on real-time data. He said the city plans to quickly provide accurate bus location and traffic information on the day of the Gwanghwamun concert to minimise inconvenience.

Chang-min Lee (이창민), a leader in Kakao's map business development team, said the company will work closely with Seoul to ensure traffic information is provided and will prepare thoroughly so people can travel more safely and conveniently. He said Kakao will use the pilot to check the effectiveness of ultra-precise transport data and continue to upgrade urban transport information services.