Gangwon Selects Wonju, Hongcheon, and Inje for 2026 Public Bus Depot Construction Project

Establishing a Foundation for Safe Operation of City and Rural Buses
Expectations for Improved Public Transportation Services

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province announced on December 5 that three locations (Wonju, Hongcheon, and Inje) have been selected for the '2026 Public Bus Depot Construction Project.' This selection will help resolve the chronic shortage of depots for route buses and expand rest facilities for transportation workers.

Exterior view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

A total of 6.97 billion won will be invested in this project in 2026, with 2.09 billion won coming from the national government and 1.39 billion won from the provincial government. Additionally, the total project budget is expected to reach 14.3 billion won by 2027.

The supported public bus depots will be built on sites of approximately 15,000 square meters, providing parking space for about 170 route buses, including city, rural, and village buses. The project will also establish operational infrastructure such as a 2,800-square-meter rest facility for drivers, a maintenance building, and offices.

In particular, the scale of national funding provided in 2026 represents the highest level of support for this project to date. It is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the stable operation of route buses in the Wonju and Hongcheon areas, where concerns had arisen due to the incorporation of private depots into urban planning roads and a lack of charging facilities for electric buses.

Lee Jonggu, Director of Construction and Transportation at Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "By resolving the depot shortage through this public bus depot project, we will be able to flexibly reorganize and increase bus routes. Expanding charging and maintenance functions, as well as improving working conditions for transportation workers, will allow us to provide safer and more convenient public transportation services. We will continue to do our best to enhance transportation convenience for our residents."

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