Three Hours from Seoul to Jeongseon
Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province announced on September 24 that it will begin operating a non-stop direct express bus connecting Jeongseon Public Bus Terminal and Seoul (Gangnam) Express Bus Terminal starting on September 25.
Choi Seungjun, Jeongseon County Governor, and other attendees are taking a commemorative photo after the opening ceremony of the non-stop direct express bus connecting Jeongseon Public Bus Terminal and Seoul (Gangnam) Express Bus Terminal on the 24th. Provided by Jeongseon County
On September 24, the county held an opening ceremony to commemorate the launch, with key figures such as Jeongseon County Governor Choi Seungjun, Jeongseon County Council Chairman Jeon Youngki, and representatives from Dongbu Express Co., Ltd. in attendance. The event included a ribbon-cutting and a trial ride.
This new route will begin service on September 25 to coincide with the opening of the 50th Jeongseon Arirang Festival, the county’s signature event.
Originally, new routes at the Seoul (Gangnam) Express Bus Terminal could only be launched on the first day of each month. However, the county achieved an early launch on the festival’s opening day through close cooperation with the transportation company.
The new route, operated by Dongbu Express Co., Ltd., will provide four round trips daily between Jeongseon and Seoul. The first bus departs Jeongseon at 6:30 a.m. and the last at 6:20 p.m., while from Gangnam, the first bus leaves at 7:00 a.m. and the last at 6:00 p.m. The journey from Jeongseon to Seoul is expected to take about three hours.
Additionally, starting October 1, the number of round trips for the intercity bus between Jeongseon Public Bus Terminal and Dong Seoul Terminal will increase from five to seven per day.
With the introduction of this new express bus and the increased intercity bus frequency, Jeongseon County expects a variety of benefits, including improved accessibility to the Seoul metropolitan area, increased attraction of festival tourists such as those attending the Jeongseon Arirang Festival, revitalization of local businesses and the accommodation industry, and enhanced transportation services for residents.
In particular, as the county’s free Wawa Bus service is linked with the new express bus, tourists arriving from the metropolitan area can conveniently connect to major tourist attractions and festival venues, which is expected to further maximize the positive impact on local tourism and the economy.
Moreover, by reducing private car use and expanding public transportation options, the county anticipates contributing to the promotion of eco-friendly transportation.
Oh Sejun, head of the Transportation Management Office, stated, "This new express bus route is the first of its kind in Jeongseon County and will make it easier for tourists from the metropolitan area to visit Jeongseon. It will also greatly contribute to the revitalization of local festivals and tourism, including the Jeongseon Arirang Festival, as well as to the improvement of transportation services for residents."
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