Transportation Administration at Its Limit: Time to Redesign with Demand-Based Solutions [New Transportation Refugee Report] ⑧

Future of Seoul - Future of Transportation
Korea's public transportation usage rate is the highest in the world
Mobility rights and service imbalances are worsening
Urgent need to establish protection measures for transportation-vulnerable groups

The crisis facing small- and medium-scale transportation networks such as light rail and village buses began when demand and supply became misaligned. The problem is that if this situation continues, it will become even more difficult to guarantee mobility rights due to imbalances in transportation services. This is why the new government must establish detailed transportation policies to protect transportation-vulnerable groups.

According to global market research firm Statista, as of 2023, the public transportation usage rate in Korea is 41%. This is the highest in the world, surpassing Poland (39%), Austria (34%), and Japan (30%). With the recent introduction of the Climate Companion Card, the usage rate is expected to rise even further.

However, if demand forecasting fails for systems like light rail and village buses, the financial burden on local governments can increase regardless of usage rates. It is also necessary to address the growing gaps and conflicts in service quality between regions, as transportation policies are being implemented sporadically by each local government.

Park Kyunga, Deputy Director of the Korea Transport Institute, stated, "We have established a convenient transportation system through policies centered on public transportation, but regional disparities in service remain," and added, "We must guarantee mobility rights through user-tailored transportation services."

In the past, transportation networks were designed based on political demand or construction-driven logic, but going forward, they must be converted to a demand-based approach. In other words, routes should be designed by analyzing living zones and travel patterns.

With the revision of the Special Act on Metropolitan Area Transportation Management in 2023, regular surveys and evaluations of accessibility and convenience of transportation modes have laid the foundation for 'demand-oriented policies.' While this is a step forward, as there had previously been no surveys on accessibility or transfer times, the limitation is that it only applies to metropolitan transportation, excluding light rail and village buses. There are calls for more granular demand analysis.

There are also suggestions to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology for demand analysis.

Kim Taehyung, Head of the Mobility Convergence Technology Division, said, "In the past, data such as traffic volume and number of passengers was not subdivided, so it was only used in 'cluster' units. Going forward, AI technology will allow us to break down the data by individual vehicles and users," adding, "The policy applications will become even greater."

Kim also noted that the scope of application could be expanded to demand-responsive public transportation (DRT), where buses are summoned via applications (apps) such as 'Ttokbus' in Uijeongbu and 'Tabara' in Busan.

He said, "Previously, users had to adjust to the schedule, but now transportation is evolving to seek out the user. By utilizing AI technology to redesign light rail routes and schedules based on big data, and by operating demand-oriented 'on-demand services,' we can improve operational efficiency and help address chronic deficit issues."