"1,900 Complaints Filed After Daegu City Bus Route Reform... Daegu Councilor Hwang Sunja Urges for Solutions"

Hwang Sunja, a member of the Daegu City Council (People Power Party, Dalseo-gu 3), urged on the 14th through an administrative inquiry (in writing) for a thorough analysis of the causes and effective improvement measures regarding the inconveniences experienced by citizens due to the recent overhaul of Daegu city bus routes.

Hwang stated, "This city bus route overhaul is the largest adjustment in 10 years, expanding from 122 to 127 routes with the aim of enhancing connections with the urban railway and improving efficiency. However, in the 26 days following the implementation, 1,902 complaints were filed with Daegu City," adding, "This amounts to an average of 73 complaints per day, indicating significant confusion and inconvenience caused by the overhaul."

Daegu City Council Member Hwang Sunja

In particular, Hwang highlighted major issues such as the disconnection of local living zones due to the abolition of existing routes, delays in bus intervals caused by changes in turnaround points, increased travel times in certain areas due to new stops, and inconveniences for middle and high school students as well as the elderly. She called for Daegu City's specific stance and proactive improvement measures.

Hwang emphasized, "We must reflect on whether this overhaul was merely a map drawn on a desk, and whether it truly reflected the actual daily routes of citizens," adding, "We should value the lives and voices of citizens embedded in each route, and continue efforts for practical, life-oriented improvements."

Additionally, through her inquiry, she demanded clear answers from Daegu City on key points such as the internal evaluation of the direction and outcomes of the route overhaul, monitoring and follow-up plans for recurring complaints by region, and the city's commitment to route adjustments to guarantee mobility rights for vulnerable groups such as students and the elderly.

Hwang asserted, "A top-down overhaul that demands citizens endure inconvenience in the name of efficiency is no longer convincing," emphasizing, "What is needed is not a designer drawing the big picture, but a practical, life-oriented transportation problem solver who takes responsibility for even the smallest inconveniences."