Three New M-Bus Routes Connecting Seoul~Incheon and Busan~Geoje to Be Established Next Year

Three New Private M-Bus Routes Established
Seoul Yangji~Incheon Jung-gu, Seoul Gangnam~Incheon Yeonsu-gu, Busan~Geoje

Citizens are using the Metropolitan Express Bus (M Bus) at Dangsan Station Metropolitan Transfer Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Starting next year, three new metropolitan express bus (M-bus) routes will operate between Seoul and Incheon, and between Busan and Geoje City in Gyeongnam.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transportation Committee announced on the 22nd that it selected three new M-bus routes for 2024 through feasibility evaluations by the Korea Transport Institute and reviews by the Metropolitan Bus Route Committee. These routes will be operated on a private sector basis.

M-buses are buses that operate across two or more cities or provinces within five major metropolitan areas: the Seoul metropolitan area, Busan-Ulsan area, Daegu area, Gwangju area, and Daejeon area, according to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Metropolitan Area Wide Transportation Management. These buses limit stops to six each within 7.5 km of the starting and ending points, allowing rapid travel between key locations.

The Metropolitan Transportation Committee selected three routes: Seoul Yangjae to Incheon Jung-gu, Seoul Gangnam to Incheon Yeonsu-gu, and Busan to Geoje City in Gyeongnam. This year, a nationwide demand survey for new M-bus routes was conducted targeting major metropolitan areas. Six routes were proposed from Incheon and the Busan-Ulsan area, and considering mobility, connectivity, and potential demand, three routes were chosen for establishment.

These routes will announce calls for transportation operators and complete selections in the first half of next year, and after coordinating operation frequency and other plans with the operators, service will begin in the second half of next year.

Kang Hee-eop, Chairman of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transportation Committee, said, "The establishment of these M-bus routes will make commuting more convenient for citizens of Incheon and Geoje City in Gyeongnam," adding, "We will expand M-bus routes outside the Seoul metropolitan area to promote balanced development across all regions."