The agreement aims to improve transportation safety and ensure mobility rights for the elderly population. (Image courtesy of the National Police Agency)
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – In a collaborative effort to improve access to public transportation for older residents in underserved areas, South Korean authorities and industry leaders have joined forces to expand a Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) bus system.
On October 14, the National Police Agency, the National Association of Mayors, and Hyundai Motor signed a memorandum of understanding at the police headquarters in Seoul’s Seodaemun district. The agreement aims to improve transportation safety and ensure mobility rights for the elderly population.
Under the terms of the agreement, the National Police Agency will seek to increase funding for voluntary driver’s license return programs in municipalities that actively implement alternative transportation methods, such as the DRT bus system.
The National Association of Mayors has committed to fostering an environment conducive to the widespread adoption of DRT buses, including the promotion of pilot programs at the local level.
Hyundai Motor will offer consulting services to local governments regarding DRT buses and support pilot operations by providing vehicles.
The DRT bus system operates similarly to a call taxi service, allowing users to board and disembark at their preferred locations. Passengers can summon a bus using a smartphone app or by phone, and a nearby bus will arrive to pick them up.
While the system is expected to be particularly effective in rural areas with limited bus routes and schedules, it has only been implemented in a few municipalities so far.
The initiative was prompted by a traffic accident at Seoul’s City Hall Station in July, which highlighted the need for mobility support policies tailored to South Korea’s rapidly aging society. Such measures are seen as crucial for maximizing the prevention of traffic accidents involving elderly individuals.
The collaboration acknowledges that elderly residents in rural areas with limited public transportation often struggle to give up driving due to restricted mobility options.
Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho expressed optimism about the program, stating, “We expect that ensuring mobility rights for the elderly will lead to a reduction in traffic accidents.” He added that this marks a shift from regulation-centered policies to a support and reinforcement system that expands mobility rights and strengthens traffic safety education.
Cho Jae-gu, president of the National Association of Mayors and head of Daegu’s Nam-gu district, noted the growing number of local governments implementing DRT bus services, including Paju in Gyeonggi Province, Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, and Sinan County in South Jeolla Province. He pledged to expand the system nationwide in the future.
Kim Dong-wook, a senior vice president at Hyundai Motor, committed to actively cooperating with relevant agencies to fulfill the company’s social responsibility towards vulnerable groups and underserved areas as a leader in future mobility solutions.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
