Implementation of Semi-Public Operation System for Namyangju (M2323) and Hwaseong (M4403) Metropolitan Buses

Starting Operations from the 1st of Next Month... Up to 27% Increase in Weekday Service Frequency and Improved Commute Convenience

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Kim] The Metropolitan Transportation Commission under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that the semi-publicly operated wide-area bus routes running from Namyangju and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province to Seoul will begin operation from the 1st of next month.

The two wide-area express bus routes (M2323, M4403) starting operation this time were previously privately operated routes, but the government plans to manage them as semi-public routes supported by government funding to ensure stable operation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has increased the number of regular route operations by up to 27% compared to before (weekday basis, 10 to 27 additional trips per route) and shortened the dispatch intervals to alleviate congestion during commuting hours.

In particular, the Namyangju M2323 route plans to increase the number of trips by 16 compared to the current operation, considering the high number of Saturday users, and the Hwaseong M4403 route will increase the number of trips by 8 to 22 to reflect the increase in weekend users.

Starting from the 1st of next month, the newly operated semi-public wide-area bus route includes Namyangju M2323. This wide-area express bus route runs from Hopyeong-dong to Jamsil Wide-area Transfer Center, operating 77 trips a day at intervals of 10 to 17 minutes from 5:00 AM to 11:20 PM on weekdays (Seoul time 05:50 to 24:10). The main stops on the outbound and inbound routes include 7 locations in Namyangju such as Hopyeong-dong Garage, Hopyeong Library, Pangok Elementary School, Hyundai I-Park, Hopyeong Business District, E-Mart, and Doosan Alphheim Entrance, and it connects directly to the Jamsil Wide-area Transfer Center in Seoul.

The Hwaseong M4403 route is a wide-area express bus route running from Naroo Village to Gangnam Station, operating 126 trips a day at intervals of 5 to 30 minutes from 5:20 AM to 11:20 PM on weekdays (Seoul time 06:00 to 24:00). The main stops on the outbound and inbound routes include 6 locations in Hwaseong such as Naroo Village, World Bando, Daeun Village (Middle), Hanbit Village (Middle), Yedang Village, and Lotte Castle (Middle), and it passes through 3 locations in Seoul including KCC Building, Sinnonhyeon Station, and Shinbundang Line Gangnam Station (Middle).

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission plans to regularly monitor the usage status of wide-area buses together with local governments and conduct thorough follow-up management to prevent issues such as overcrowding during commuting hours, boarding failures due to full capacity, and long waiting times at intermediate stops by proactively increasing the number of buses and trips when necessary.

Meanwhile, the Commission also plans to manage the transition of three routes, including Paju M7111, which have completed license issuance, to semi-public operation sequentially from next month as vehicle supply is completed.