Jeju Island has announced the expansion of its 'Obseo Bus' on-demand transit service, starting this May. The service area will be extended in Aewol-eup, Seongsan-eup, and Pyoseon-myeon, with a new route added in Gujwa-eup.

Expansion Details:

Aewol-eup: Expanded from 25.4㎢ to 44.1㎢
Seongsan-eup: Expanded from 57.1㎢ to 120.1㎢
Pyoseon-myeon: Expanded from 21.2㎢ to 76.9㎢
Gujwa-eup: Newly added with 81.3㎢ coverage
What is the Observe Bus?

The Obseo Bus is an on-demand transit service that operates based on passenger requests. Jeju Island is transitioning public bus routes with long intervals and low ridership to the Obseo Bus system.

Current Operation:

Pilot operation began in Aewol-eup and Namwon-eup in 2023.
Service expanded to Hallim-eup, Hangyeong-myeon, Seongsan-eup, and Pyoseon-myeon in 2024.
Starting May 2025, a total of 23 routes will operate across 7 townships.

Operational Impact:

According to Jeju Island's monitoring, the average passenger wait time has been reduced from 61 minutes to 14 minutes since the introduction of the Obseo Bus. The average daily bus operation distance has also decreased by 2,116 km.

Jeju Island Official's Statement:

Kim Tae-wan, head of Jeju Island's Transportation and Aviation Bureau, stated, "With the expansion of the Obseo Bus to 7 townships, we anticipate increased ridership and improved efficiency. We will continue to expand the service to areas with limited public transportation access."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]