Busan Gijang-gun Integrates Bus Routes... New 'Gijang 57' Route Operates

Gijang-gun Bus No. 57.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Busan Gijang-gun (Governor Jeong Jong-bok) will operate a new route, ‘Gijang 57,’ which integrates the routes of the region-customized transportation ‘Gijang-gun Bus’ lines ‘Gijang 5’ and ‘Gijang 7’ and extends to Donghae Line Jwacheon Station, starting January 2, 2023.

This route is organized into two courses: Wolpyeong Line (Donghae Line Jwacheon Station ∼ Jeonggwan-eup Administrative Welfare Center ∼ Wolpyeong Village) and Byeongsan Line (Donghae Line Jwacheon Station ∼ Jeonggwan General Industrial Complex ∼ Byeongsan Village), operating a total of 20 trips (17 trips on Wolpyeong Line, 3 trips on Byeongsan Line).

The ‘Gijang-gun Bus’ is a rural transportation model project by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, aimed at guaranteeing the practical mobility rights of residents in public transportation vulnerable areas and providing customized transportation services suited to local conditions.

It operates 15-seat small buses in public transportation marginalized areas such as remote areas where existing village buses do not operate, and since its launch in August 2019, about 70,000 residents (as of the end of 2022) have used the service annually.

▲(Gijang 1) Gyori ∼ Seoksan·Jungri Line ▲(Gijang 10) Gijang Station ∼ Sinmyeong Line ▲(Gijang 57) Jwacheon Station ∼ Wolpyeong·Byeongsan Line are the three routes currently in operation, with fares the same as the current village bus fares: 1,300 KRW in cash and 1,130 KRW by transportation card for general adults, with transfer discount systems also applied.

The timetable and route map can be checked on the Gijang-gun website.

A Gijang-gun official stated, “With the operation of this new route, residents in public transportation marginalized areas will be able to transfer to the Donghae Line subway more conveniently, making public transportation use more accessible,” adding, “We will continuously monitor passenger status and surrounding traffic conditions to improve the Gijang-gun Bus.”