Seongdong-gu Public Shuttle Bus Expanded to 3 Routes... All Routes Transfer at Wangsimni Station

Since October Last Year, Major Public Facilities Connected to Fill Gaps in Village Bus Routes
87% of Users Satisfied with Overall Operation, 94% Intend to Use Again
Routes to Be Revised and Two New Routes Added in May to Reflect Resident Feedback
Routes Designed to Pass Through Seongdong-gu Office, the District’s Representative Public Institution

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will expand the operation of the ‘Seongdong-gu Public Facility Shuttle Bus’ in May, thanks to the high satisfaction of residents.

Since October last year, Seongdong-gu has been operating the ‘Seonggong Bus’ to improve accessibility and eliminate transportation blind spots, allowing residents to conveniently use essential public facilities within their living area.

The ‘Seonggong Bus’ operates in areas such as Geumho-dong, Eungbong-dong, Haengdang-dong, and Seongsu-dong, where there are gaps in public transportation routes like village buses. It passes through 22 stops connecting major public facilities established and operated by Seongdong-gu, including educational, cultural, artistic, and sports facilities, public libraries, and community service centers. The operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays (last bus at 6 p.m.), and anyone using public facilities or who is a transportation-vulnerable person can use it free of charge.

This year, the district plans to continue operating the ‘Seonggong Bus’ and conducted a survey of 944 users from January 2 to 19. The results showed that 87% of users were satisfied with the operation of the ‘Seonggong Bus,’ and 94% expressed their intention to use it again, indicating a high overall satisfaction with the service.

Regarding the reasons for using the ‘Seonggong Bus,’ respondents cited cost savings (30%), convenience (26%), and reduced travel time (18%) in that order. Additionally, 73% agreed on the need to adjust the existing route to Wangsimni Station to improve accessibility to Seongdong-gu Office and actively requested the introduction of additional routes.

Accordingly, the district will actively review and reflect residents’ opinions, partially adjusting stops on the current route (Route 1) and adding two new routes, operating a total of three routes.

First, Route 1, which circulates Seongsu-dong and Geumho-dong with Seoul Forest Complex Culture and Sports Center as the start and end point, passing through Sowol Art Hall, Seongdong-gu Office, Geumho 1-ga-dong Community Service Center (Geumho Branch of Seongdong-gu Public Health Center), and Seongsu Cultural Welfare Center, will abolish the ‘Sowol Art Hall’ stop near the main gate of Sambu Apartment and instead establish a new stop at Wangsimni Station Plaza (in front of Exit 4 of Wangsimni Station), improving accessibility to Seongdong-gu Office.

The newly established Route 2 will have Seongdong-gu Yongdap Sports Center as the start and end point, passing through Yongdap-dong Senior Welfare Center, Yongdap Rodeo Street, Yongdap-dong Urban Regeneration Support Center, and Yongdap-dong Community Service Center stops. It will then circulate through Majang-dong Community Service Center, Sageun-dong Community Service Center, Seongdong-gu Office, Sangwangsimni Station Smart Library, Wangsimni Doseon-dong Community Service Center, and Seongdong-gu Public Health Center.

The core of this route is to improve accessibility between Yongdap-dong, where village buses do not operate, and Seongdong-gu Office, a representative public facility of Seongdong-gu, and to connect the Seongdong-gu Public Health Center, which residents frequently requested to be included.

Route 3 connects Songjeong-dong and Wangsimni. It actively reflects the opinions of Songjeong-dong residents near Gwangnaru, where subway accessibility is poor and moving to Seongdong-gu Office is difficult. Starting and ending at Songjeong-dong Public Complex Building, it circulates through public facilities such as Songjeong-dong Smart Healthcare Center (scheduled to open), Seongdong Tax Office, Seongdong-gu Office, and Sowol Art Hall.

The district held a route adjustment committee meeting on February 25 to finalize these routes. While minimizing overlap with village buses, all three ‘Seonggong Bus’ routes are designed to pass through Seongdong-gu Office (Wangsimni Station), making it easier for residents anywhere in Seongdong-gu to access this essential administrative institution. Moreover, organic transfers between the ‘Seonggong Bus,’ village buses, city buses, and the subway will be possible, further enhancing residents’ convenience in using public transportation.

The ‘Seonggong Bus Web Service,’ which provides notification services such as user verification and boarding ticket (QR code) issuance, route maps, and real-time bus location information, will be revamped into a simplified ‘Seonggong Bus App Service’ to improve accessibility and usability.

The fare remains free as before, and seniors aged 65 and over can board with just an ID card.

Through about three years of research and analysis, the district identified transportation blind spots nationwide for the first time in 2023 using big data. The ‘Seonggong Bus’ plays a pivotal role in realizing transportation welfare that minimizes blind spots by connecting the transportation network more densely and inclusively accommodating all residents, including transportation-vulnerable groups. Due to high resident support, it was selected as one of the ‘Top 10 News Stories that Shined in Seongdong in 2024,’ chosen directly by residents at the end of last year.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “The Seonggong Bus is a public transportation model that complements the existing village bus privatization system while strengthening transportation welfare, enabling residents to more easily access essential public services. We will continue to reflect residents’ opinions to strengthen connectivity between public facilities, ensuring that all Seongdong residents can easily enjoy public facilities, and do our best to establish a dense mobility network within living areas to eliminate transportation blind spots.”