Jeonju Girin-daero BRT to Open This Year, Kicking Off Transportation Innovation

Accelerating Project Progress with Simultaneous Construction in Three Sections

The 'Girin-daero Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)' system, which is set to transform the public transportation landscape of Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, will officially begin operations in November 2026.

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According to Jeonju City on January 7, the first phase of the Jeonju BRT, which is planned to cover a total of 28.5 kilometers in three stages, is currently under construction along the Girin-daero section and is scheduled to open within this year.

The first phase covers a 9.5-kilometer stretch from Honamjeilmun to Hanbyeokgyo Intersection. The city is currently transplanting street trees and relocating sidewalks, and is accelerating progress by simultaneously working on three sections: Yeoui Square to Chucheondaegyo Bridge, Chucheondaegyo Bridge to Electronics Market, and Electronics Market to Omokdae.

Once the BRT is introduced, city buses will travel on dedicated lanes, achieving speed and punctuality comparable to private vehicles. This is expected not only to increase public transportation usage, but also to improve mobility for transportation-vulnerable groups such as the elderly, and to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.

In particular, Jeonju City, in cooperation with local governments and regional political leaders, succeeded in amending relevant laws for this project. The scope of national funding, previously limited to metropolitan cities, was expanded to include urban transportation maintenance areas with populations over 100,000, establishing a basis for 50% of the project cost to be covered by national funds.

The city plans to extend the BRT from Girin-daero to Baekje-daero in the second phase and to Songcheon Jungang-ro in the third phase, aiming to complete a new 28.5-kilometer public transportation corridor by 2030. Throughout this process, the city has focused on building consensus by incorporating citizens' opinions into the design through a citywide debate and 51 on-site briefing sessions.

Kim Yong-sam, Director of Public Transportation for Jeonju City, stated, "The BRT is an economical alternative that will overcome the limitations of the existing bus system and solve urban transportation issues. We will minimize inconvenience during construction and push forward rapidly to deliver a transportation innovation that citizens can truly experience."