When Seogwipo bus terminals were merged in 2013, two intercity routes were also merged. That made it convenient for riders, but very challenging for bus drivers. The route is long and hilly. It is labor intensive and the long driving hours exhausting, especially when snow and ice cover the roads. Mike Balfour has more.


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Bus routes merged in 2013

Buses No. 781 and 782 start at the intercity bus terminal in Jeju City and make stops on the 5.16 Road and in Jungmun, Seogwipo then return to the starting point.

The province made the new loop route when it overhauled bus routes in 2013 following the merger of Seogwipo bus terminals.

It's convenient for both of tourists and residents because they can reach the Jungmun Tourism Complex in Seogwipo and Seongpanak on Hallasan Mountain without transfer.

However, the integration of the two separate routes has brought harmful side effects.

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It took between one hour and one and a half hours for a bus to make a one-way trip between the terminals in Jeju City and Seogwipo before the change.

After the change, it takes about two and a half hours to make the loop. ### C.G OUT

The new route includes the hilly 5.16 Road and the (평화로) Pyeonghwa-ro expressway, which exhausts bus drivers.

SYNC
Intercity bus driver
To keep on schedule during the morning and evening rush hours, we can’t take any short breaks before heading back to Jeju City. We don’t have even a minute to smoke at the terminal in Seogwipo. It’s worse, and dangerous, on snowy days.
<싱크 : 시외버스 운전기사>
"눈 오면 쉴 시간도 없어. 눈 안와도 러시 아워 시간에는 차 막히니까 시간을 도저히 못 맞춰. 그러면 그냥 담배 필 시간도 없이 와야해.
-----수퍼체인지-----
중간에 시간을 많이 잡아먹으면 운전기사가 여기서(터미널에서) 쉬어야 하는데 쉴 시간이 없어져 버리는 거지. "

The island’s ever-changing weather is another challenge to the drivers.


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Moon Ho-seong

Recently an intercity bus slipped off the road in icy conditions on 5.16 Road and hit a tree. 16 people were injured at the accident.

The intercity bus operator acknowledges the difficulties, but it has no alternatives because there is no proper starting or end points for the route in Seogwipo.

SYNC
Bus company representative
The buses run every 10 minutes now, so if we can find a place for drivers to park and rest for 50 minutes before coming back to Jeju City, they can take a break. We haven’t found such a place, though. <싱크 : 운수회사 관계자>
"서귀포에서 정말 종점이나 기점이 장소가 없거든요. 지금 한 10분 간격이면 50분 간격으로 여유있게 대기할 장소만 있으면 되는데.
-----수퍼체인지-----
그러면 어찌될지 모르겠지만 그럴만한 장소가 없기 때문에."

[REPORTER]
Mike Balfour

Public transportation service needs to be improved for passengers’ convenience and safety.

Mike Balfour KCTV