Nation's First City Tour Exclusive for Disabled in Busan, 'Narae Bus' Operation

Successful Hosting of the Busan World Disabled Games and Realization of a Disability-Friendly City

Tourist Travel Buses for Mobility-Impaired to Operate Twice Weekly Starting June

Busan City will begin full-scale operation of the nation’s first city tour bus exclusively for people with disabilities starting in June to guarantee the tourism mobility rights of the disabled and realize Busan as a disability-friendly city.

Busan Disabled City Tour, Narae Bus.

So far, the city has operated 187 Duribal taxis, which are designated for mobility-impaired individuals, and 1,000 self-pay call taxis for people with disabilities, but it has not operated any tourist buses for the mobility-impaired, including people with disabilities.

Accordingly, Mayor Park Hyung-jun pledged “guaranteeing mobility rights for people with disabilities” as a campaign promise for the 8th term of the mayor to enhance the quality of life through strengthening welfare for the disabled. The city has allocated a budget of 50 million KRW this year to begin full-scale operation of a travel bus for mobility-impaired individuals including people with disabilities starting in June.

Officially named the “Busan Disabled City Tour, Narae Bus,” this bus, popularly called the Narae Bus, will have its opening ceremony on the 31st at 2 p.m. at the Eurasia Platform of Busan Station, attended by the Director of the Social Welfare Bureau of Busan City, related organizations, and members of disability groups to announce the start of full-scale operation.

The project operation will be entrusted to the Busan Disabled Persons’ Federation, which was designated as a co-project operator after receiving a large bus equipped with six wheelchair seats?the only one in Busan?from the International Lions Club District 355-A Busan.

The disabled city tour bus will operate twice a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) on a reservation basis for groups of a certain number of people, departing from Busan Station and running major tourist routes in Busan city such as Gwangalli and Haeundae.

Narae Bus Route Map.

In particular, eight Busan-themed design artworks created by the 10th class of the Computer Design Training Group at the Busan Brain Lesion Welfare Center, expressing hopes for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid, were donated as talent contributions for the bus design wrapping, funded by donations from Busan Lotte World Adventure.

The Busan Disabled City Tour Narae Bus is planned to be utilized for the mobility of people with disabilities during the 2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Games held at BEXCO from August 7 to 11.