Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation announced that it held an opening ceremony on June 30 to commemorate the launch of the 'Ddokbus' service in two areas of Uijeongbu?Minrak 1 District and Minrak 2·Gosan District?and that official operations will begin on July 1.
The opening ceremony, held at Bitdeul Culture Park in Uijeongbu, proceeded in the following order: presentation of certificates of appreciation, ribbon-cutting, commemorative photo session, and a Ddokbus trial ride. The event concluded successfully with the congratulations and support of over 100 local citizens and key figures, including Min Kyungseon, President of Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation; Kim Donggeun, Mayor of Uijeongbu; Kim Yeongyun, Chairman of the City Council; Lee Jaegang, National Assembly member; and Oh Seokgyu, Provincial Assembly member.
The Uijeongbu Ddokbus service will operate a total of eight small vans?four in Minrak 1 District and four in Minrak 2·Gosan District?running daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. However, the last call for service is at 11:30 p.m.
In particular, during weekday commuting hours, fixed-route Ddokbus services will be provided to facilitate residents' commutes. During morning rush hours (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.), the routes will operate from Minrak 1 District (Sandeulmaeul 2 Complex) to Byeollae Station and from Minrak 2·Gosan District (Songsan Elementary School and Shopping Complex) to Byeollae Station. During evening rush hours (5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.), the routes will operate from Byeollae Station to Minrak 1 District (Sandeulmaeul 2 Complex) and from Byeollae Station to Minrak 2·Gosan District (Songsan Elementary School and Shopping Complex).
The fare is the same as the standard city bus fare when using a transportation card: 1,450 won for adults, 1,010 won for teenagers, and 730 won for children. The metropolitan area integrated transfer discount also applies.
To use the Uijeongbu Ddokbus, passengers can enter their departure and destination points in the 'Ddokta' app to call a Ddokbus in real time and receive information about the pick-up location and vehicle. For those who have difficulty using the app, Ddokbus can also be accessed via phone call.
Min Kyungseon, President of Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, said, "I am very pleased that Ddokbus has been introduced in Uijeongbu for the first time. I hope that Ddokbus will help resolve transportation inconveniences for residents and make commuting, especially during rush hours, more convenient." He also stated that Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation will continue to do its utmost to improve mobility for provincial residents.
Meanwhile, starting with the pilot project in Paju in 2022, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation is now operating a total of 267 Ddokbus vehicles in 19 cities and counties across Gyeonggi Province, including the new launch in Uijeongbu. As an app-based new transportation system in Gyeonggi Province, Ddokbus, which allows passengers to travel from departure to destination while seated without transfers, has been well received by residents.
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