"Walking Bukchon After Getting Off the Bus"... Jongno-gu Establishes Three Chartered Bus Boarding and Alighting Points Nearby

Established on Samcheong-ro, Samil-daero, and Donhwamun-ro
To Be Implemented Starting January

Jongno-gu in Seoul (Mayor Jung Moonheon) announced on the 28th that, ahead of the implementation of chartered bus traffic restrictions around Bukchon-ro in January next year, it had established three chartered bus boarding and alighting points on Samcheong-ro, Samil-daero, and Donhwamun-ro on the 26th.

Jung Moonheon, Mayor of Jongno District, leading the Bukchon Special Management Area promotional campaign. Courtesy of Jongno District Office.

This measure aims to resolve tourism congestion and illegal parking issues in the Bukchon area, as well as to strengthen pedestrian safety. It is also part of the district's ongoing policy to promote the "Walking Bukchon" travel culture.

Recently, as the number of tourists in Bukchon has increased, tourist routes have expanded into school and residential areas, leading to problems such as illegal parking of chartered buses, disorderly boarding and alighting along roadsides, and traffic congestion. In particular, Bukchon-ro has been identified as a section with heightened safety risks due to concentrated chartered bus traffic at certain times, resulting in intersection congestion and obstructed pedestrian visibility.

In response, Jongno-gu designated Bukchon as a Special Management Area and, since July this year, has been conducting a pilot operation (focusing on guidance) restricting chartered bus traffic along approximately 2.3 kilometers of Bukchon-ro, Bukchon-ro 4-gil, Bukchon-ro 5-gil, and Changdeokgung 1-gil.

To install the boarding and alighting points, the district conducted a comprehensive survey of traffic volume, intersection structures, and parking facilities within a 1.5-kilometer radius. It also analyzed pedestrian accessibility (within 1 kilometer) and the impact on traffic flow when vehicles stop, selecting optimal locations through a review process.

The final boarding and alighting points have been confirmed at three locations: in front of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (near 165-5 Sogyeok-dong), opposite Changdeokgung Palace (near 139-4 Waryong-dong), and near the west gate of Tapgol Park (near 37-3 Jongno 2-ga). The district will only allow chartered bus boarding and alighting in these areas, strictly restricting long-term stops and parking by imposing fines for stopping longer than five minutes.

Although chartered bus traffic will be restricted, tourism in Bukchon itself will continue. Tourists can use the designated boarding and alighting points and parking facilities, with nearby parking lots such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace parking lot (48 bus spaces) and Tapgol Park (2 spaces) serving as key hubs. It takes about 10 to 30 minutes on foot from each location to Bukchon.

Mayor Jung Moonheon stated, "We expect to prevent illegal roadside parking in the Bukchon area, secure safe boarding and alighting routes for tourists, minimize conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, and promote a walking travel culture. With the establishment of chartered bus boarding and alighting points, we aim to expand a high-quality, walk-centered tourism culture in Bukchon, encouraging visitors to get off the bus and explore on foot."

Location of chartered bus boarding and alighting points. Provided by Jongno-gu.