High Usage and Satisfaction Lead to Expansion of Ddokbeoseu Service in Sindun-myeon and Majang-myeon
Pilot Operation Begins on November 12, Official Service Launches on November 19
Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation announced that it will begin a pilot operation of the 'Ddokbeoseu' bus service in Sindun-myeon and Majang-myeon in Icheon City starting November 12, with full-scale operations commencing on November 19.
To commemorate the launch of the service in these two areas, opening ceremonies will be held on November 13 at the Sindun-myeon Ceramic Art Village Nonghyup and on November 14 at the Majang Nonghyup, respectively. The Sindun-myeon ceremony will be attended by key local figures, including Kim Kyeonghee, Mayor of Icheon, while the Majang-myeon ceremony will feature the mayor as well as other local dignitaries and Kim Youngchan, Director of the Transportation Business Division at Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation.
The Ddokbeoseu bus in Icheon City was first introduced in urban areas in 2023 and expanded that same year to cover Janghowon-eup and Yul-myeon. Building on high usage rates and strong satisfaction among local residents, the service area has now been further extended to include Sindun-myeon and Majang-myeon.
With this latest expansion, ▲Sindun-myeon will establish a transportation network connecting the Ceramic Art Village and Sindun Doyechon Station, making visits more convenient not only for local residents but also for tourists to the Ceramic Art Village; ▲Majang-myeon will see improved convenience for travel between commercial and residential areas, which is expected to help revitalize the local economy.
For operations, ▲Sindun-myeon will be served by two 13-seater Solati vehicles and one 10-seater CV1 vehicle, while ▲Majang-myeon will have three 13-seater Solati vehicles and two 10-seater CV1 vehicles. In both areas, the service will run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., with the last call for rides at midnight.
Following the adjustment of Gyeonggi Province city bus fares on Saturday, October 25, the fare for Ddokbeoseu matches the standard city bus fare when using a transportation card: 1,650 won for adults, 1,160 won for teenagers, and 830 won for children. The integrated metropolitan transfer discount also applies.
To use Ddokbeoseu, passengers can enter their departure and destination points in the 'Ddokta' app to call a bus in real time and receive information about the pick-up location and vehicle. For those who have difficulty using the app, Ddokbeoseu can also be requested by phone.
Min Kyungseon, President of Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, stated, "We are very pleased to expand the Ddokbeoseu service in Icheon City thanks to the enthusiastic support of residents. We will continue to work to ensure that more residents of Gyeonggi Province can enjoy comfortable and safe transportation services through the ongoing expansion of Ddokbeoseu."
Meanwhile, since launching the pilot project in Paju in 2022, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation now operates a total of 303 Ddokbeoseu buses in 20 cities and counties across Gyeonggi Province, including the latest addition in Icheon City. As an app-based next-generation transportation system that allows passengers to travel from origin to destination while seated, without transfers, Ddokbeoseu has established itself as a popular mobility option among residents of Gyeonggi Province.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
