Yangju City to Launch Pilot Operation of 10 "Smart Bus" Vehicles in Western Region Starting June 17

Same Fare as City Buses from June 25
Adults 1,450 KRW, Teenagers 1,010 KRW, Children 730 KRW
Operating in Three Zones from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on June 16 that it will begin a pilot operation of 10 Smart Bus vehicles, a demand-responsive transport service, in the western region of the city starting June 17 to improve the local public transportation environment.

Smart Bus. Provided by Yangju City

This marks the third launch following the operation of 10 Smart Bus vehicles in Okjeong New Town in August 2023 and the subsequent introduction in Hoecheon New Town last month. The new service is expected to further enhance public transportation connectivity and balanced development in the western area.

The Western Smart Bus service is divided into three zones: Zone 1 (Baekseok-eup, Gwangjeok-myeon), Zone 2 (Eunhyeon-myeon, Nam-myeon), and Zone 3 (Jangheung-myeon).

While the service operates as an on-demand system within each zone, during weekday commuting hours, Zone 1 will connect to Yangju Station and Zone 2 to Deokjeong Station, serving as key transfer hubs to facilitate public transportation transfers and feeder connections.

A total of 10 vehicles, including medium and small-sized vans, will be deployed across the zones: Zone 1 (4 vehicles), Zone 2 (3 vehicles), and Zone 3 (3 vehicles). The service will operate daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

However, ride requests will be accepted only until 10:30 p.m.

During the pilot period from June 17 to June 24, rides will be free for all passengers. Starting from June 25, when regular service begins, fares will match city bus rates: adults (1,450 KRW), teenagers (1,010 KRW), and children (730 KRW). These fares will also be eligible for the metropolitan area integrated transfer discount.

Yangju City Mayor Kang Suhyeon stated, "The introduction of the Western Smart Bus will enable more balanced development of public transportation infrastructure," and added, "I hope many residents will use the Smart Bus, which will help improve not only transportation but also the overall residential environment in the western region."

Meanwhile, the name "Smart Bus" stands for "a bus that moves smartly" and refers to a demand-responsive transport (DRT) system.

Unlike fixed-route services, the Smart Bus operates flexibly within a designated area according to passenger reservations and ride requests, without predetermined routes or schedules.

By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), the service determines the optimal route in real time based on passenger demand. When passengers with similar routes request rides, the AI automatically adjusts the route to serve them efficiently.

Passengers can enter their departure and destination locations in the "Ttota" app, an integrated transportation platform operated by Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, to receive guidance to the nearest stop. The service can also be accessed by phone reservation.