Gyeonggi-do Ends Quasi-Public Operation and Opens Era of 'Public Buses'

From August, Gyeonggi-do Public Buses Transition... 70 Routes, 610 Vehicles
From September, 12 Privately Operated Routes with 109 Vehicles Also Transition to Public Buses

Gyeonggi-do Public Bus [Provided by Gyeonggi-do]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] In the second half of this year, 90% of Gyeonggi-do's metropolitan buses will be converted to 'Gyeonggi-do Public Buses,' operated under a route bidding quasi-public operation system.

Gyeonggi-do and Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation announced on the 4th that "starting August 1, 70 direct-seat city bus routes, which were operated under a revenue joint management quasi-public operation system, have been converted to 'Gyeonggi-do Public Buses' and began operation."

The public bus routes include a total of 70 routes and 610 buses across 10 cities and counties: Gapyeong 5, Gwangju 4, Guri 3, Gunpo 2, Namyangju 19, Yangju 2, Yongin 12, Paju 13, Pocheon 4, and Hanam 6.

To this end, the selection of transportation operators was completed in June through a bidding announcement in May, and all preparatory procedures such as implementation agreements and pre-operation inspections were completed last month.

As a result, the 'revenue joint management quasi-public operation system,' where private companies owned route rights with permanent licenses, has completely ended within the province, and a total of 1,960 Gyeonggi-do public buses operate on 208 routes.

Additionally, 12 metropolitan bus routes that had been operated under a private system will also be converted to public buses starting September 1, increasing the total to 220 routes and 2,069 buses within the year, meaning 90% of Gyeonggi metropolitan buses will operate as 'Gyeonggi-do Public Buses.'

The license period for these routes is five years (limited license), and it can be extended once for an additional four years based on service evaluation results.

'Gyeonggi-do Public Bus' is a system first introduced nationwide by the 7th Gyeonggi-do administration, evaluated as an 'advanced country model' that strengthens public transportation publicness and financial support transparency, with the province and cities/counties responsible for service under a 'route bidding system.'

Recognizing these advantages, it was recently selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee as the national quasi-public operation standard model.

Jung Sang-gyun, president of Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, stated, "We will make further efforts in route management and service improvement so that residents can use 'public transportation more comfortable than private cars.'"