One Month of Uiryeong 'BBangBBang Bus': Vibrant Daily Life and Clear Changes

Full Public Bus System Proves Its Worth
Noticeable Boost in Resident Satisfaction

Uiryeong County in South Gyeongsang Province is seeing clear results, such as increased ridership and improved satisfaction among residents, as it marks one month since the full public bus system—the first of its kind in the province—was implemented.

The free operation of the 'BBangBBang Bus' has reduced transportation costs, leading to increased mobility for residents and injecting vitality into both daily life and the local economy.

Residents boarding the Uiryeong Bangbang Bus. Provided by Uiryeong County.

Uiryeong County sought to improve the structural limitations of rural transportation not by expanding subsidies, but by overhauling the operational structure itself. By adopting a county-operated system, the aim was to strengthen the public nature of public transit and more broadly guarantee residents' right to mobility.

The effects of free rides are also evident in the numbers. According to on-site operational data and measured statistical analysis, the number of passengers rose from 23,581 in March 2025 to 30,818 in March 2026—a 30.7% increase in just one year. Crowds can be seen at bus stops not only on market days, but also on regular weekdays.

There have also been noticeable changes in the daily lives of residents.

Eunok Cho (71) said, "In the morning, I go to the bathhouse; in the afternoon, I go see flowers; and in the evening, I exercise. Since there's no burden of bus fares, I naturally go out more." She added, "It's like enjoying free transportation in the city, so it's truly a blessing."

Jeongyeon Kim (80) remarked, "By saving 3,000 won on round-trip fares each day, it adds up to a substantial amount over a week. Even if it doesn't cover my medicine, it at least saves me the cost of medical fees, which I'm really grateful for."

Students of Uiryeong Middle School are riding the Uiryeong BBangbbang Bus. Provided by Uiryeong County

The response among students has also been positive. Taerim Kim, a second-year student at Uiryeong Girls' Middle School, said, "The bus arrives on time, making it easier to match my schedule for private academies, so I use the bus more often. There's less reckless driving, and the drivers are friendlier, so I am satisfied."

Since the introduction of the free bus service, changes have also been seen in local businesses.

Ilhwan Jang (66) and Sujeong Yeo (56), a couple running a donut shop in the Uiryeong Market, said, "There are definitely more people on market days. Without the burden of bus fares, elderly people come to the market in small groups, look around, and buy snacks. Today, we've almost sold out, with only a few left. We expect the market to become even more vibrant in the future."

Uiryeong County has also quickly addressed inconveniences that arose in the early phase of implementation. To resolve overcrowding during students' after-school hours, the previous single bus at 4:30 p.m. was divided into two buses operating at 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Additionally, the first bus was rescheduled from 6:40 a.m. to 6:20 a.m. to improve transfers to intercity buses bound for Masan, and the departure time from Sinban was adjusted to 11:10 a.m. to address transfer inconveniences with intercity buses headed toward Hapcheon.

To strengthen on-site response, the county relocated the Bus Public Operation Task Force team and the transportation office to the Bus Public Terminal, establishing a field-oriented system for real-time management and immediate action regarding operations.

Going forward, the county plans to reduce transportation blind spots by reorganizing the local and trunk routes and expanding demand-responsive transport (DRT) services.

County Governor Tae Wan Oh stated, "It is important to establish a transportation system where residents can experience real changes in their daily lives. We will continue to improve the system with a focus on guaranteeing the right to mobility."

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