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Busan Metropolitan City to Expand Industrial Complex Commuter Bus Services from March Next Year with 10 Additional Buses and New Routes

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the budget for the industrial complex commuter bus service in 2026 has been set at KRW 35.8 billion, an increase of KRW 9.32 billion (approximately 35%) compared to the original 2025 budget.

This budget increase was prepared ahead of the bidding process for selecting the operator of the industrial complex commuter bus service for 2026, reflecting rising operating costs such as fuel and labor expenses as well as growing demand by industrial complex. The budget was finalized following consultations with the Busan Metropolitan City Council.

The City is implementing the industrial complex commuter bus service through the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, selecting operators through an open bidding process conducted every two years. The bidding process to select an operator for the period from March 2026 to February 2028 is scheduled to take place in early January 2026.

Starting in March 2026, the scale of the industrial complex commuter bus service will be significantly expanded. The City plans to deploy 57 buses across 22 routes serving 16 industrial complexes, operating a total of 132 trips per day (68 inbound morning trips and 64 outbound evening trips).

Compared to the previous year, this represents an expansion of three additional industrial complexes, six additional routes (two newly established and four expanded or adjusted), ten additional buses, and 31 additional daily trips (16 inbound morning trips and 15 outbound evening trips).

In addition, the City will pursue a “customized expansion of commuter bus operations” that comprehensively reflects the usage conditions and traffic environment of industrial complexes by region.

For industrial complexes in the western Busan area, surveys of commuter bus user satisfaction and meetings with companies have consistently raised requests for additional buses, complaints regarding overcrowding, and the need to alleviate traffic congestion during commuting hours. In response, the City plans to deploy a total of 48 buses (an increase of eight), operating 106 trips per day (55 inbound morning trips and 51 outbound evening trips). By flexibly adjusting dispatch schedules by route and time period, the City aims to improve the riding environment in ways that workers can clearly experience.

In the eastern Busan area, numerous complaints have been received calling for the resolution of transportation blind spots, particularly in areas with limited access to public transportation. Accordingly, the City will establish new commuter bus routes (Eco Jang-an and Myeongnye), expand and adjust existing routes (Jeonggwan Nongong Complex, Eco Jang-an, and Medical Science Complex), and strengthen connections with Jwacheon Station on the Donghae Line. A total of nine buses (an increase of two) will be deployed, operating 26 trips per day (13 inbound morning trips and 13 outbound evening trips).

Along with expanding routes and increasing the number of buses, the City will continue to advance overall service quality for the industrial complex commuter bus system.

First, since mid-October 2025, the City has been operating a dedicated mobile application for industrial complex commuter buses, “Sandan Tayo” (literally, “Let’s take the bus to the industrial complex”). The system operates through a boarding authentication method based on user membership registration, and approximately 1,600 workers are currently registered and using the service. Information collected during registration—such as place of residence, workplace, and commuting times—will be used for route-specific demand analysis and understanding commuting patterns.

In addition, the City is gradually replacing aging signboards at commuter bus stops within industrial complexes. In the second half of this year, signboards at 51 bus stops within the Noksan Industrial Complex were replaced as a priority, and the City plans to expand this effort next year to the Science Industrial Complex and other areas.

Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “Improving the commuting environment for industrial complexes is a top priority for ensuring employment stability for workers and strengthening industrial competitiveness. The budget increase for expanding commuter bus services next year reflects the City’s active response to requests for additional buses and expanded routes raised during on-site meetings with companies,” adding, “Going forward, we will continue to listen to opinions from the field, steadily improve the commuting environment for industrial complex workers, and consistently identify and pursue policies that provide practical benefits to both workers and local businesses.”