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Busan Metropolitan City to Launch Nation’s First Pilot Program Allowing Large Suitcases on City Buses… Starting April 1, Route 85 to Permit Suitcases up to 30 Inches

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will implement a three-month pilot program, from April 1 to June 30, allowing large suitcases on city buses for the first time nationwide. The initiative aims to prepare for an era of 4 million foreign visitors to Busan and improve the convenience of public transportation use for both tourists and residents.

This initiative marks the first attempt in the country to permit large suitcases on city buses, with the goal of delivering tangible improvements in transportation services experienced by both tourists and citizens.

As the number of foreign tourists visiting Busan has recently increased, so has the demand for city bus usage by passengers carrying large suitcases. However, under current transportation regulations, only carry-on-sized suitcases (up to 20 inches) are permitted, which has led to ongoing inconvenience.

In response, the city will implement the pilot program on Bus Route 85 (Yuhan Passenger), which is frequently used by foreign tourists, allowing the boarding of large suitcases.

Route 85, which passes through Yeongdo, Busan Station, Seomyeon, and Jeonpo-dong, was selected as the pilot route after comprehensive consideration of its characteristics, including the high dependence on city buses in the Yeongdo area where no urban rail service is available, as well as its connection to major tourist and downtown areas.

The pilot program allows suitcases up to 30 inches in size to be brought onboard. However, this is only permitted during non-peak hours, excluding commuting times (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00).

In cases where passenger safety may be compromised due to congestion, boarding of suitcases may be restricted at the discretion of the driver. Suitcases must be secured to metal fixtures located in the priority seating area for transportation-vulnerable passengers (wheelchair space), and each passenger is limited to one suitcase.

When transportation-vulnerable passengers, such as wheelchair users, board the bus, the designated space will be prioritized for them to ensure their right to mobility.

To ensure stable operation of the pilot program, the city will conduct prior training for drivers and actively inform citizens and tourists through onboard and external 안내 stickers and announcements.

In particular, on April 1, the launch date of the pilot program, an on-site demonstration event will be held to showcase how to bring and secure large suitcases, while also informing the public about the purpose of the project and how to use it.

In addition, throughout the project period, the city will continuously monitor complaint cases, safety incidents, and user feedback, and will actively collect public opinions through QR-based surveys.

This pilot program is the first case in the country to verify, in real-world conditions, the standards for bringing large suitcases onboard and related safety management measures without requiring structural modifications to buses. The results will serve as important data for determining future policy improvements and potential expansion.

Based on the outcomes of the pilot program, the city plans to review the establishment of formal standards for allowing large suitcases and consider expanding the initiative to other routes.

Meanwhile, the city also plans to improve the design of the Huinnyeoul Culture Village bus stop along Route 85 by creating a photo zone and applying bus wrapping, with the expectation of establishing public transportation as a tourism content in itself.

Hwang Hyeon-cheol, Director General of the Transportation Innovation Bureau, stated, “This pilot program was launched to enhance convenience for citizens and improve public transportation usability in line with the increase in foreign tourists, while also creating a more tourism-friendly transportation environment. We will thoroughly analyze the results and continue to expand transportation services that are convenient for both citizens and tourists.”