Confusing 'M' and 'G' Numbers... Which Metropolitan Buses Prohibit Standing Passengers?

On the morning of the 18th of last month, when 14 bus companies in the Gyeonggi area under KD Transportation Group stopped allowing standing passengers on metropolitan buses, a bus was passing by a bus stop in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Since the 18th of last month, standing passengers have been prohibited on 14 KD Transportation Group-affiliated companies' intercity buses operating in the Gyeonggi area. This effectively halts standing on most intercity buses traveling between Gyeonggi and Seoul, causing various inconveniences during commuting hours. Although standing had been tacitly allowed for the convenience of citizens, it was completely banned following safety concerns raised by the October 29 Itaewon tragedy. We examined which intercity buses have stopped allowing standing passengers and how their operation types differ.

Standing Prohibited on 164 Routes...Effectively Restricting Standing on Most Gyeonggi Intercity Buses

The recent announcement to stop standing passengers was made by 14 companies affiliated with KD Transportation Group. They operate a total of 146 routes with 1,473 buses. Among these, 112 routes with 1,123 buses are quasi-public buses running between Seoul and other metropolitan areas. This accounts for 51% of all public buses in Gyeonggi Province, which total 220 routes and 2,093 buses. The 14 companies include Gyeonggi Express, Gyeonggi Bus, Gyeonggi Sangun, Gyeonggi Transport, Gyeonggi Passenger, Daewon Express, Daewon Bus, Daewon Transport, Icheon City Bus, Pyeongan Transport, Pyeongtaek Bus, Hwaseong Passenger, Myeongjin Passenger, and Jinmyeong Passenger. Considering that some bus companies like Gyeongjin Passenger and Yongnam Express had already banned standing since July, this measure effectively prohibits standing on most intercity buses connecting Gyeonggi Province and Seoul.

These routes connect major cities in Gyeonggi such as Seongnam, Suwon, Hwaseong, Yongin, and Namyangju with key Seoul hubs like Seoul Station, Gangnam Station, and Jamsil Station, serving a large number of commuters traveling to Seoul. Gyeonggi Province estimates the standing rate on KD Transportation Group-affiliated intercity buses to be about 3%, with an average of 2,925 people per day expected to experience inconvenience due to the standing ban.

Although standing on buses was prohibited by amendments to the Passenger Transport Service Act and Road Traffic Act in 2012 and 2018 respectively, it had been tacitly permitted for the convenience of citizens. Due to the lack of adequate measures to resolve boarding difficulties during rush hours, police have reportedly not enforced standing bans since 2014. However, following the Itaewon tragedy and other safety incidents, bus companies have taken the lead in deciding to stop allowing standing passengers.

Violations Result in Business Suspension and Fines for Drivers

M-bus, a metropolitan bus operating between the Seoul metropolitan area including Gyeonggi and Incheon, and Seoul Station.

If standing passengers are caught, bus companies face business suspension (10 days for the first offense, 20 days for the second, 30 days for the third) and a fine of 600,000 KRW. Drivers are fined 100,000 KRW and may have their driving qualifications revoked after three fines within one year.

As inconvenience to citizens is expected due to the standing ban, the government and local authorities have decided to gradually increase bus supply. On the 1st, Gyeonggi Province announced that starting from the 5th, 20 additional charter buses will be deployed during commuting hours. Previously, from the 21st to the 28th of last month, Gyeonggi Province deployed 24 charter buses during commuting hours on 14 routes across six cities and counties, including Gwangju City's route 500-2. In total, 44 charter buses have been deployed to compensate for the standing ban on intercity buses.

Additionally, Gyeonggi Province plans to introduce 14 new double-decker electric buses (45 seats on the lower deck, 70 seats on the upper deck) to two Hwaseong City routes (7790 and 1006) by December 20. Furthermore, 10 regular buses will be added to four Seongnam City routes (333, 3330, 3500, 8106) starting December 12 to meet concentrated demand.

M Bus, G Bus? ... Confusing Bus Systems

Among the routes where standing is banned, there are various types of buses commonly called 'M Bus' and 'G Bus,' which can be confusing. In fact, bus systems differ by city and province depending on the operation area and characteristics, and their names vary slightly. However, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport regulations, operation types can be broadly classified into four categories: metropolitan express, direct seat, seat, and general types.

Generally, intercity buses refer to those operating routes passing through two or more cities or provinces, connecting city to city. Among the four operation types, metropolitan express and direct seat types are commonly called intercity buses.

Some intercity buses have an 'M' or 'G' prefix before their bus numbers. Both types are express buses that pick up and drop off passengers at major metropolitan hubs in the Seoul metropolitan area and provide rapid transit. The difference is that 'M' buses are authorized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while 'G' buses are authorized by Gyeonggi Province.

Officially, buses with an 'M' prefix are called 'Metropolitan Express Buses,' and those with a 'G' prefix are called 'Gyeonggi Province Public Buses.' M buses operate routes connecting not only Gyeonggi Province but also Incheon and Seoul.

Separately, buses bearing the 'G BUS' logo refer to city buses operated by Gyeonggi Province. Simply put, this is the bus brand of Gyeonggi Province, operating various routes including metropolitan express, direct seat, and general types.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.