The government’s ‘Five Extremes and Three Specials’ initiative is a new growth strategy aimed at connecting regions into cohesive living zones, ensuring that opportunities are accessible regardless of where one lives. Daily life has already begun to transcend administrative boundaries, with commuting, school, hospital visits, job searches, and cultural activities becoming routine across multiple cities.
While living zones have evolved, transportation has not kept pace with these changes. Despite the increasing frequency of travel between cities, many commuters still find themselves needing to switch buses at administrative borders. As commute times lengthen, job options narrow, and the distance to schools and hospitals increases. The disparity in transportation conditions between metropolitan and rural areas ultimately leads to unequal opportunities.
The most practical solution to these changes is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. By utilizing dedicated lanes, BRT can maintain schedules even on congested roads and can be implemented more quickly than rail systems. Expanding routes to necessary locations is also straightforward. The goal is not merely to add another fast bus but to create a comprehensive transportation network that seamlessly connects the expanded living zones.
The effectiveness of BRT has already been demonstrated in several cities. In areas like Sejong, BRT routes have seen increased bus speeds and punctuality, leading to a rise in citizens opting for public transportation over personal vehicles. As new transit corridors linking cities are established, commuting has become significantly more convenient. It is now time to extend these changes nationwide, rather than limiting them to select regions.
The government’s ‘Second Comprehensive Plan for the Bus Rapid Transit System (2026-2030)’ is rooted in these considerations. With a total investment of 1.6 trillion won by 2030, the plan aims to gradually establish 38 BRT routes across the country. It seeks to broaden transportation investments, which have been concentrated in the metropolitan area, to include large cities and super-regional areas, connecting airports, train stations, new towns, and industrial complexes more effectively. The objective is to create a transportation network that allows easy access to key living areas without the need for a personal vehicle.
Simply increasing the number of routes is not enough. The process of using buses must also be improved. This includes making access to bus stops more convenient and simplifying transfers. Facilities will be upgraded to ensure that individuals with mobility challenges can use them without difficulty, and hydrogen and electric buses, along with autonomous driving technologies, will be gradually introduced. Another goal of the second comprehensive plan is to create a public transportation environment that is safer and more comfortable for everyone.
However, several challenges must be addressed for these changes to take root in the field. Creating a single route requires close cooperation among multiple local governments. Existing bus and rail services must be integrated smoothly, and securing dedicated lanes and stable funding, as well as engaging with local residents, are essential. Ultimately, what matters is not the scale of the plan but that citizens can directly experience the change in their daily lives, feeling that “taking the bus has become much more convenient.”
The second comprehensive plan for the Bus Rapid Transit system aims to connect expanded living zones into a unified national transportation network, bringing regions closer together. This transformation does not begin with grand initiatives but with small changes, such as buses arriving on time and reduced transfer times. Students will face less burden commuting to school, and seniors will find it easier to access hospitals and markets. Businesses will be able to recruit talent from a broader living area, and regions will gain more opportunities. For a region to thrive, it must be easy for people to move around. The Metropolitan Transport Committee is committed to implementing these changes, one bus ride at a time, based on the ‘Five Extremes and Three Specials’ initiative.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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