Increasing 1,000 Late-Night Taxis in Seoul for Year-End... Extending Last Bus Service

Seoul City Announces Year-End Traffic Measures on the 9th
Last Buses in 11 Key Areas Operate Until 1 AM

Seoul City is implementing traffic measures in response to the increase in nighttime travel due to year-end events and gatherings. Additional taxis will be supplied during late-night hours, and the last bus times at major locations such as Hongdae Ipgu and Gangnam Station will be extended until 1 a.m.

On the 9th, Seoul City announced that it will immediately implement plans to expand taxi and bus supply throughout December. According to the city, the number of taxi operations during late-night hours increased from 45,756 in November to 49,780 in December last year. Since a similar level is expected this year, the city plans to increase supply accordingly.

A taxi is running through downtown Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

First, in collaboration with the taxi industry and platform companies, 1,000 additional taxis will be supplied during late-night hours. Together with the taxi industry, 'temporary taxi stands' will be installed in four areas with high late-night demand, including Gangnam and Jongno, to encourage orderly boarding. The private taxi industry will encourage late-night operations on Thursdays and Fridays when demand is high, and the corporate taxi industry will prioritize night shifts when organizing work teams.

The temporary taxi stand operation areas are ▲in front of Shake Shack and CGV at Gangnam Station ▲Jongno Youth Street ▲Exit 9 of Hongdae Ipgu Station. These stands will be concentrated on Fridays when taxi demand surges. They will be installed from 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. the next day on the nights of the 13th, 19th, 20th, and 27th. About 160 members of the 'Late-Night Boarding Support Team,' composed of Seoul city employees and taxi industry workers, will be deployed.

Taxi platform companies will promote late-night operations and provide incentives to expand supply. Uber, Onda, Tada, and I’m Taxi are participating.

As taxi demand increases, focused crackdowns will be conducted to prevent ride refusals, unfair fares, and illegal paid transportation using private passenger cars. Patrols and enforcement will be carried out in areas such as Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Hongdae from 3 p.m. until 1 a.m. the next day until the 27th.

Bus supply will also be expanded, focusing on major areas where citizens gather. From the 16th to the 31st, Monday through Saturday (excluding holidays), the last bus times at 11 major locations in Seoul will be extended until 1 a.m. The main locations with extended last bus times are ▲Hongdae Ipgu ▲Gangnam Station ▲Jongno 2-ga ▲Yeongdeungpo ▲Sinchon ▲Yeoksam ▲Yeouido ▲Kondae Ipgu ▲Seoul Station ▲Myeongdong ▲Guro Station, totaling 11 places. The last bus times for 87 routes and 2,321 buses passing through these areas will be extended.

The operation of the late-night exclusive city bus, the 'Owl Bus,' will also be increased. From the 17th to the 31st, on Tuesdays through Saturdays, 28 additional Owl Buses will be added, bringing the total to 167 buses in operation.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul City Transportation Office, said, "We have decided to work closely with the transportation industry to minimize inconvenience for citizens returning home late at night during the year-end when taxi and last bus usage increases." He added, "We will do our best to enhance transportation convenience so that citizens can move faster and more comfortably in the future."

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