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Resolution of Transportation Inconvenience for Eco Delta City Residents – “Econubi Bus” to Begin Operation on October 30!

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “Econubi Bus” service, connecting Eco Delta City with Myeongji International New City and Hadan Station, will begin operation on October 30.

In May, Busan Metropolitan City, Gangseo-gu District, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation established a basic plan for this project and signed a business agreement. After six months of preparation, the service will now commence operations.

The name “Econubi,” meaning “a citizen’s bus that traverses Eco Delta City,” was chosen through a resident naming contest. The vehicle design reflects the eco-friendly waterfront city image of Eco Delta City, distinguishing it from conventional local buses.

The Econubi bus service will operate under a limited five-year license (2025–2029), with six medium-sized electric low-floor buses on two routes—Gangseo 8-1 and Gangseo 15-1.

• ●Route Gangseo 8-1: Eco Delta City – Myeongji Saedongne – National Assembly Library

• ●Route Gangseo 15-1: Eco Delta City – Gangseo Police Station – Hadan
  The first buses will depart at 6:20 a.m. and 6:10 a.m., respectively, with intervals of 35–40 minutes for Route 8-1 and 35 minutes for Route 15-1.

Route	Number of Buses	Interval	Main Stops
Gangseo-gu 8-1	3	35–40 minutes	Eco Delta City (EDC) – Myeongji Saedongne – Myeongji International City – National Assembly Library
Gangseo-gu 15-1	3	35 minutes	Eco Delta City (EDC) – Gangseo Police Station – Hadan

With the addition of these two routes, passenger waiting times for transfers to existing city and local buses are expected to decrease by an average of 3 minutes toward Hadan (from 13 to 10 minutes) and 13 minutes toward Myeongji International New City (from 30 to 17 minutes).

Fares will be the same as those for Gangseo-gu local buses—1,480 KRW for adults, 750 KRW for youth, and free for children—with the same free transfer benefits to other public transportation.
However, Econubi buses will be operated as “cashless buses” that accept only transportation cards. Passengers without a transportation card may instead pay their fare via bank transfer, ensuring convenience for all users. This measure aims to provide a safer and more convenient transportation service amid the declining number of cash-paying passengers.

Meanwhile, the Econubi bus represents the first nationwide implementation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s “Public Transportation Support Project for New Towns.”
In October 2022, the Ministry announced the “Comprehensive Plan for Improving Metropolitan Transportation in New Towns,” which established the legal basis for supporting inadequate public transportation in newly developed areas (such as Eco Delta City) through agreements between local governments and project operators.

The Econubi bus, as the first field application of this project, sets an important precedent and benchmark for similar public transportation support initiatives in other long-term management districts nationwide.

Hwang Hyun-cheol, Director General of the Transportation Innovation Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The Econubi bus is not merely a new route but a tangible realization of Busan’s future vision as a smart city, an eco-friendly transportation hub, and a 15-minute city. We will continue expanding innovative transportation services that citizens can truly experience in their daily lives.”