Gyeonggi Province announced on July 20 that it will launch five new routes for the 'Gyeonggi PyeonhaG Bus,' a seat-reservation-based metropolitan bus service that connects major hubs in Gyeonggi Province with Seoul during rush hours.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae held a press conference that afternoon at the Pangyo Station East bus stop in Baekhyeon-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, to announce the expansion plan for the Gyeonggi PyeonhaG Bus.

The new routes, which are scheduled to begin operations within this year starting in October, include: Pyeongtaek Yeonhwa Elementary School (Hwayang District) to Seoul National University of Education Station; Yangju Hoecheon Benest (Hoecheon/Okjeong New Town) to Seoul Gangbyeon Station; Hwaseong Hoban Summit Dongtan (Sindong/Mokdong, etc.) to Seongnam Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley; Hwaseong JW Pharmaceutical Intersection (Taean 3 District/Byeongjeom) to Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley; and Uiwang Indeogwon Prugio (Naeson-dong area) to Seongnam Seohyeon Station.

The Pangyo Station East bus stop, where the press conference was held, is located along the routes connecting Hwaseong Hoban Summit Dongtan to Seongnam Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley and Hwaseong JW Pharmaceutical Intersection to Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley.

These new routes were finalized based on proposals submitted through a dedicated bulletin board on the website of the 'Fair, Innovative, and Inclusive Gyeonggi Preparation Committee'—the transition committee for the Gyeonggi Province Governor—as well as through an emergency demand survey.

The route from Hwaseong Hoban Summit Dongtan to Seongnam Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley received the highest number of proposals from residents, totaling 207.

This was followed by 61 proposals for the Yangju Hoecheon Benest to Seoul Gangbyeon Station route, 43 for the Uiwang Indeogwon Prugio to Seongnam Seohyeon Station route, 24 for the Hwaseong JW Pharmaceutical Intersection to Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley route, and 21 for the Pyeongtaek Yeonhwa Elementary School to Seoul National University of Education Station route.

Depending on the route, 2 to 3 buses will be deployed to operate 2 to 3 times during rush hours.

However, the two routes connecting Gyeonggi Province and Seoul—Pyeongtaek Yeonhwa Elementary School to Seoul National University of Education Station and Yangju Hoecheon Benest to Seoul Gangbyeon Station—require consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "We are currently in discussions with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and plan to begin operations as soon as an agreement is reached."

In addition to the route expansion, the frequency of operations will also increase.

Gyeonggi Province plans to increase the total daily operations of the Gyeonggi PyeonhaG Bus from the current 84 to 92 in the second half of this year, followed by 122 in 2027, 152 in 2028, and up to 184 by 2030.

Governor Choo said, "Since the election campaign, I have emphasized transportation innovation that restores time to our residents as one of my most important promises. Today, on my 20th day in office, we are taking the first step toward fulfilling those promises one by one." She added, "We will also carefully examine mid- to long-term metropolitan transportation tasks, such as the extension and construction of GTX routes, which will change the macroscopic framework of Gyeonggi Province's transportation."

The Gyeonggi PyeonhaG Bus operates via a pre-reservation system through the MiRi app.

As an express service that stops only at major hubs, it allows passengers to secure seats in advance without the inconvenience of waiting due to full buses or standing. The fare is 3,450 won, with integrated transfer discounts applied.

(Photo: Yonhap News)