Mobile phone-based public lockers to debut at subway stations

A new type of public lockers where anyone can conveniently store their belongings just with a mobile phone will be installed at subway stations on Subway Lines 5 to 8. The Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation said on Tuesday that it has installed "Happy Box," public locker for temporary storage of personal belongings that adopts the concept of "Internet of things (IoT or technology that sends and receives data in real time by attaching sensors to things)," at 17 subway stations including Yeouido Station (Subway Line 5) and Gongdeok Station (Line 6).

The most notable characteristic of Happy Box is minimization of the process required for storing things in the locker. If one puts in his or her mobile phone number into the lock of the locker when depositing, the machine automatically creates a random password. The password and number of the locker, and payment data are also instantly transmitted to the mobile phone. The eight-step procedure including selection of an empty locker and entry of the password twice, which was required when using the conventional subway locker, has been significantly simplified.

The basic fee to use the new public locker is set at 1,000 won (90 cents), half that of the conventional public locker (2000 won or 1.8 U.S. dollars per 2 hours) in the subway. The corporation said, “The conventional lockers were operated through rental by agencies, but Happy Box is operated by the corporation, which enables lower the rate.” The corporation plans to operate Happy Box on a trial basis before replacing all lockers at 157 stations on Subway Lines 5 to 8 beginning in June.