QR codes have hit the metropolitan public transit system of Seoul, Korea. Officials have placed the code on each of the city’s 6,300 bus stops. When scanned, the code offer’s the user with real-time information on bus services, schedules, and current location. Available in a number of languages, the service caters to the large portion of the society that relies on public transport to conduct day-to-day activities and business.
The service will also be of benefit to foreign tourists as it will provide them with information regarding directions and points of interest. Maps showing restaurants and shops will be available via the mobile site as well as links to their corresponding sites.
Kim Chang-Kyun, Director of the Urban Transportation Division, said that the number of people taking advantage of the information via smart phones has grown exponentially. This gave them the idea to implement QR codes to better accommodate those using the system.
QR codes are gaining popularity all over the world, driven mainly by the number of smart phone users growing. A Nielson study suggest that the at least 50% of the mobile device market will be occupied by smart phones within the next few years and those taking advantage of the burgeoning market now stand to succeed in their industry.
As a dynamic way to engage with the public, QR codes have no equal. Their ease of implementation ensures that their place in mobile marketing and promotion is solid and unlikely to change in the near future.
