Mayor Donggeun Kim: "A Student-Created Commuter Bus, the Strength of an Educational City"

One Year of the Uijeongbu Commuter Bus, Born from a Student's Proposal
A Closer and Easier Journey to School
Daily Ridership More Than Doubled After the Overhaul
Over 36,000 Students Have Boarded
Real-Time Tracking on KakaoMap
Shorter Waiting Times and a More Predictable Commute
Saving 40 Minutes from a Two-Hour Commute
A Meaningful Change in Students' Daily Lives

"Every morning, I have to transfer buses several times, and it takes more than two hours just to leave the house."

In December 2023, Jojin Cho, who was then the student council president at Uijeongbu Girls' High School, said this to Mayor Donggeun Kim. For students commuting from the Songsan area to the Heungseon area, the journey to school was a "small daily ordeal."

Mayor Donggeun Kim is greeting student Jojin Cho at the Songyang High School bus stop on the 24th to mark the first anniversary of the Uijeongbu student school bus service. Provided by Uijeongbu City

The small suggestion that began with a student's plea became one of Uijeongbu City's signature youth-oriented policies a year later: the "Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus."

On September 24, Uijeongbu City (Mayor Donggeun Kim) marked the first anniversary of the "Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus" by inspecting the morning commute and holding a session to communicate with students.

On this day, Mayor Donggeun Kim personally checked the demonstration of the ultra-precise bus location information service and boarded the student commuter bus with Jojin Cho, the student who first made the suggestion, accompanying students on their way to school. Mayor Kim listened attentively to the students' concerns about commuting as he conversed with them.

About 18% of the 4,000 high school students in the Songsan area commuted to the Heungseon area. The average round trip took two hours. For students who needed to focus on their studies, this time was a significant burden.

Uijeongbu City listened to these voices and, starting in August 2023, officially launched six commuter bus routes. As a result, students were able to save about 40 minutes on average each day, and the safety and comfort inside the buses became a starting point for positive changes in their daily lives.

At the end of last year, the city reflected the results of a satisfaction survey and feedback from parents and schools, making significant improvements to the operation system starting in March this year.

The number of routes was streamlined from six to three for greater efficiency, and eight new stops were added to serve new apartment complexes and academy districts. In addition, the number of morning trips was increased to two per day, and, for the first time in Uijeongbu, all vehicles were replaced with eco-friendly hydrogen buses, enhancing both comfort and environmental sustainability.

Mayor Donggeun Kim is seen boarding the "Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus" along with student Jojin Jo on the 1st anniversary of the bus service on the 24th, engaging in conversation. Provided by Uijeongbu City

The effects of these improvements were evident in the numbers. From August 2023 to January 2024, before the changes, the average daily number of users was just 173, with 125 using the bus to get to school and 48 using it to return home. However, from March 2024 to September 12, the average daily number of users more than doubled to 356.

The number of students commuting to school reached 200, while those returning home reached 156, representing a 105% increase in overall usage. Notably, the number of students using the bus to return home surged by 225%, significantly improving convenience in students' daily lives.

Most notably, since the system overhaul, a total of 36,388 students have used the commuter bus service. Of these, 20,320 used it to get to school, and 16,068 used it to return home, clearly demonstrating the significant role the commuter bus plays in students' everyday lives.

The commuter bus is more than just a "bus." In July, the city signed a business agreement with Kakao and introduced an "ultra-precise location information service." This was the first time such a service was applied to city buses in Gyeonggi Province.

Through KakaoMap, the location of the commuter bus is provided in real time, allowing students to avoid unnecessary waiting at bus stops and making their commute more predictable.

Parents can also check their children's commuting status in real time, giving them peace of mind. Mayor Donggeun Kim shared this convenience with students by personally demonstrating the service at the first-anniversary event.

Mayor Donggeun Kim is taking a commemorative photo with students on the 24th to mark the first anniversary of the Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus. Provided by Uijeongbu City

The "Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus" is a case of youth-oriented transportation welfare that began not with administrative planning, but with a student's suggestion that was realized as policy.

Mayor Donggeun Kim stated, "Because the student commuter bus was started based on students' own suggestions, Uijeongbu City continues to seek answers in the field and improve its operations. We will continue to prioritize students' safety and convenience in creating a commuting environment, making Uijeongbu a better educational city."

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