Gwangju City to Gather Expert and Citizen Opinions on BRT Introduction

Policy Forum to Be Held at Gwangju Transportation Corporation on the 27th

Poster for the 'Daejabo Policy Forum'. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 26th that it will hold the "3rd Daejabo Urban Gwangju Policy Forum" together with the Gwangju Sustainable Development Council and Gwangju Transportation Corporation at the Gwangju Transportation Corporation Grand Auditorium at 1:30 p.m. on the 27th.

This forum is the third Daejabo Urban Forum, following last year's first forum on "Pedestrian Environment and Bicycles" and the second on "Improving Mobility Convenience for Transportation-Vulnerable Groups." Relevant organizations and experts will gather to explore the introduction of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to create a more convenient public transportation environment.

At the forum, Kim Geojung, Associate Research Fellow at the Korea Transport Institute, will give a keynote presentation on "Domestic BRT Cases and Future Challenges," and Lee Changho, Director of the Gwangju City Transportation Policy Research Office, will present "Gwangju City's BRT Implementation Plan."

Following this, a panel discussion will be moderated by Professor Jung Seok of the Department of Urban Engineering at the University of Seoul, who also serves as a policy advisor for Gwangju City (Daejabo Urban sector). Panelists include Lee Sunggeun, Executive Director of Busan Green Trust; Kang Soyoung, Secretary General of the Jeonju Sustainable Development Council; Kim Kyungjae, Director of Planning and Coordination at Gwangju Transportation Corporation; and Jang Junseok, Research Fellow at the Gwangju Institute.

The Gwangju City Daejabo Urban Roadmap identifies BRT as a core element in establishing a public transportation system based on connectivity and punctuality. BRT, often referred to as the "subway on the ground," is recognized as a low-cost, high-efficiency transportation system. Due to concerns about traffic congestion in the Gwangcheon area following redevelopment and the opening of a large shopping mall, the need to introduce BRT in this region is being raised.

The forum will review domestic BRT introduction and operation cases in cities such as Seoul, Sejong, and Busan, and gather opinions from experts and citizens. The city plans to incorporate policy recommendations from the forum into Gwangju City's transportation policy development.

Ko Gwangwan, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, stated, "This forum is an opportunity to discuss the direction for introducing BRT tailored to local conditions and environments," and added, "We will reflect the diverse voices of experts and citizens in the formulation of Gwangju City's transportation policies."

Meanwhile, last year Gwangju City shifted its transportation policy direction from car-centered to people-centered urban environments and declared "Daejabo (Public Transportation, Bicycle, and Pedestrian-Oriented) Urban Gwangju." The city plans to continue holding policy forums on various Daejabo-related topics this year, following last year's efforts.