Hanam City and Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education Join Forces... "Student Shuttle Loop Buses" to Launch on March 3

Support for Long-Distance Commuting in Wirye, Gam-il, Misa and Other Areas
Hanam City to Pilot Three Routes
Signing of Student Shuttle Loop Bus MOU

On the 23rd, Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) and the Gyeonggi Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education (Superintendent Oh Seongae) signed the "Hanam City Limited-License Student Shuttle Loop Bus Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)."

Lee Hyeonjae, mayor of Hanam, is signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the "Hanam City Restricted-License Student Shuttle Loop Bus" with Oh Seongae, superintendent of the Gyeonggi Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education, on the 23rd. Provided by Hanam City

The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Hyunjae, Mayor of Hanam City, and Oh Seongae, Superintendent of the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education, as well as Park Jonggwan, Chair of the School Management Committee Council, Choi Daein, Chair of the Union of Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School Parent Associations, Park Hyejin, Auditor of the School Management Committee Council, Park Mijeong, President of the Hanam High School Parents' General Assembly, and Heo Deokhaeng, Managing Director of Gyeonggi Sangun, among other officials, adding significance to the event.

The purpose of this agreement is to reflect the commuting needs of middle and high school students who must travel long distances within the jurisdiction due to the enrollment of new students in 2026, thereby ensuring safe commuting conditions for students and improving convenience.

Through a working-level consultative body, the two institutions conducted a full survey of both new and current students. Based on the results, they decided to run a pilot operation with a total of five buses on three routes, focusing on areas where new demand was identified.

The student shuttle loop buses will begin operating on March 3, in line with the start of the new school term. The total annual budget required is 650 million won, which, in principle, will be shared equally by Hanam City and the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education. In accordance with provisions related to the Public Official Election Act, students using the service must personally pay 1,160 won, the city bus youth fare when using a transportation card.

Looking at the detailed route plans, Commuter Route 1 connects Buk Wirye to Wirye Middle School and Wirye High School, with two vehicles making a total of 12 loops per day, consisting of six morning trips to school and six afternoon trips from school. Commuter Route 2 links Gam-il New Town, Wirye Middle and High Schools, Wirye New Town, and Gam-il High School, with one vehicle operating one morning trip to school and two afternoon trips from school. Commuter Route 3 connects Gam-il New Town with Hanam High School, Gyeongyeong High School, Any High School, and Namhan High School, with two vehicles providing two morning trips to school and four afternoon trips from school.

One student commuter circular bus route. Provided by Hanam City.

Two student circular shuttle bus routes. Provided by Hanam City.

Three school bus loop routes. Provided by Hanam-si.

In particular, Hanam City carried out lane improvement work near the Hills State Central Wirye bus stop in parallel, in order to prevent additional traffic congestion that could occur when the student shuttle buses stop. By adjusting the safety zone to secure an overtaking lane, the city ensured that general traffic can continue to flow smoothly even when the buses are stopped.

Superintendent Oh Seongae said, "This agreement is a meaningful achievement made possible by educational institutions and administrative bodies working together with one heart to improve students' commuting conditions," adding, "I would like to express my gratitude to Hanam City for its wholehearted support for the students up to the conclusion of this agreement, and the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education will continue to cooperate with Hanam City to the fullest to create convenient commuting conditions."

Mayor Lee Hyunjae of Hanam City said, "The operation of the commuter loop buses will be a fruitful outcome that provides a safe and pleasant way to and from school for students who have suffered inconvenience due to long-distance commuting," and added, "We will continue to listen to voices from the field and create the best possible educational environment."

The two institutions expect that this operation will shorten students' commuting time and produce tangible improvements, and they plan to continue refining the operation plan by accumulating data from the pilot program.