KOTI - Korea Transport institute

1. Introduction

The excessive population concentration in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) has led to its expansion into a vast and integrated urban region. This long-term trend poses a significant risk to the viability of regional cities and threatens the nation’s balanced development. In response, several non-capital metropolitan areas in Korea have begun promoting the establishment of special metropolitan entities—referred to as “megacities”—to foster inter-municipal collaboration and discover opportunities for large-scale cooperative projects. In these emerging regional megacities, the development of wide-area transportation networks plays a crucial role. It improves connectivity and mobility among neighboring cities, expands functional living zones, and supports the revitalization of local industries. However, metropolitan regions in non-capital areas continue to face significant shortcomings in wide-area public transportation services compared to the SMA.

Unlike the SMA, where rail infrastructure is relatively well-developed, regional metropolitan areas typically rely on bus-based systems, including intra-city and intercity buses, to provide wide-area transit services. While buses have lower passenger capacity than rail, they are cost effective and operationally flexible, allowing route adjustments in response to demand. Accordingly, bus-centered wide-area public transportation networks are considered more suitable for regional metropolitan areas, where intercity travel demand is lower than that of the capital region. This approach is consistent with Korea’s national transportation strategies, including the Second Comprehensive Plan for Wide-Area Transportation in Metropolitan Areas (2021–2040) and the Fourth National Public Transportation Plan (2022–2026). Nonetheless, research on the development of alternative wide-area bus routes for these regions remains limited. In many cases, new routes are planned based on the personal experience of public officials or in response to resident petitions, rather than through systematic analysis or data-driven methodology.

This study aims to develop alternative wide-area bus routes to support the introduction of wide-area public transportation systems in non-capital metropolitan areas. To achieve this, the research proposes a methodology for identifying and selecting route alternatives based on an objective and comprehensive evaluation. Key factors include regional wide-area travel demand, existing rail and intercity bus services, and the spatial dynamics of the targeted regions. Additionally, case studies from various regional metropolitan areas will be conducted to identify viable route alternatives and analyze their potential impacts. These findings will inform the formulation of effective strategies for promoting wide-area bus services in non-capital metropolitan regions. The study also explores institutional and policy reforms to facilitate the implementation and expansion of wide-area bus services. This includes a review of current operational models in regional areas and potential conflicts with existing intercity bus operators. Furthermore, relevant legal and institutional frameworks will be analyzed to identify barriers and propose practical measures for improvement. The ultimate goal is to provide actionable recommendations for activating wide-area bus systems as a foundational element of regional megacities in Korea.

 

[ Contents ]

1. Introduction

2. Current State of Public Transportation in Regional Metropolitan Areas

2-A. Current Status of Metropolitan Bus Services in Major Urban Areas Nationwide

2-B. Status and Plans for Metropolitan Rail Transit in Regional Metropolitan Areas

2-C. Status and Plans for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Regional Metropolitan Areas

2-D. Status of Intercity Bus Services in Regional Metropolitan Areas

2-E. Metropolitan Travel Demand in Regional Metropolitan Areas

3. Methodology for Designing Metropolitan Bus Routes

4. Alternative Metropolitan Bus Routes in Regional Metropolitan Areas

4-A. Analysis of Metropolitan Travel Demand and Service Gaps by Region

4-B. Alternative Metropolitan Bus Routes by Region

4-C. Effectiveness Analysis of Regional Metropolitan Bus Alternatives

5. Institutional Improvement Measures for Introducing Metropolitan Buses in Regional Metropolitan Areas

5-A. Collection of Opinions from Local Governments on Metropolitan Bus Introduction

5-B. Constraints Related to the Introduction of Metropolitan Buses in Regional Areas

5-C. Strategies for Resolving Social Conflicts

5-D. Policy and Institutional Improvement Measures

6. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations