Seoul City, Unmoved by 'Accident Warnings', Orders Unilateral 'Route Detours' After Accidents

Seoul City and Bus Companies, "Unavoidable Measures for Safety"
Goyang City and Bus Passengers, "Unilateral Route Changes Without Notice"

A regular route bus passing through Byeokje-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang City, has been unilaterally detouring since a traffic accident, causing increased inconvenience for some local residents.

The bus company and the supervisory agency, Seoul City, claim it is an "unavoidable measure for safety," but as the temporary detour prolongs, criticism is emerging that the local government is practicing "complacency."

According to Seoul City on the 22nd, the No. 774 bus traveling between Paju-eup, Gyeonggi Province, and Bulgwang-dong, Seoul, had an accident on the Hyeeumryeong hill road in Goyang City on January 22.

The bus slipped while descending the frozen hill and crashed into a store's wall beside the road, but fortunately, there were no casualties.

Scene of the accident on Hyeumryeong Pass road of Bus No. 774
Photo provided by Seoul City

However, the bus company reportedly frequently heard from drivers that "accident risks are detected in that section" and notified Seoul City several times, but aside from reviewing route adjustments, no other measures were taken.

A Seoul City official told this publication, "I understand that the bus company made frequent requests, and when the tunnel was constructed, there was an attempt to adjust the route, but it was not implemented. Since I am from the route team, this is all I can say."

Goyang City requested Seoul City to "resume normal bus operations on the section as the winter season has passed," but Seoul City responded that "the risk of safety accidents still exists," and instead notified plans to shorten the route (Paju-eup to Jingwan Public Garage) and change the route to a Gyeonggi Province route.

Seoul City also replied to citizens' complaints about the route by stating, "Please note that Goyang City is preparing to operate a village bus as an alternative route for the steep section."

According to the Passenger Transport Service Act, local governments can issue improvement orders such as temporary detours or route changes to transport companies if they judge there is an accident risk.

However, even if Goyang City, which has begun reviewing bus routes to operate on Hyeeumryeong hill following Seoul City's route shortening policy, decides to establish an alternative route, it is expected to take considerable time before bus operations commence.

A Goyang City official said, "Seoul City unilaterally notified us that operation is not possible, and since there is a welfare facility for the disabled near the hill, we are considering plans to deploy one or two village buses first."

However, the official added, "Large buses need to operate for disabled users, but since the hill is dangerous, administrative procedures such as deciding on an appropriate bus remain. Therefore, it is difficult to establish a regular bus route for the time being."

Meanwhile, since the accident, the route bus has been detouring around Hyeeumryeong hill (from January 26), causing significant inconvenience to residents near the hill and workers at the disabled facility, who have to walk about 20 minutes to use the bus.

An office worker, Mr. A, said, "I have to leave 30 to 40 minutes earlier to catch the bus, and people commuting to the nearby disabled facility are also experiencing a lot of inconvenience. It is hard to understand logically that a route is unilaterally changed without notice just because of one accident."

A resident, Mr. B, complained, "The bus company and Seoul City are consistent in complacency rather than citizen convenience. They should stop avoiding responsibility and quickly resolve the issue, even if it is a temporary measure."