South Korea’s public transportation sector is experiencing a wave of innovation and reform in 2026, with sweeping changes aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and service quality for riders across the country. From Gyeonggi Province’s scientific approach to bus driver safety, to Sejong’s affordable school taxi program, and Dongjak-gu’s investment in training new bus drivers, local governments are taking bold steps to reshape how citizens get around—and the results are already making an impact.
On April 11, 2026, the Korean Transportation Safety Authority (TS) and Gyeonggi Province announced a landmark agreement to build a system that would scientifically analyze and manage the driving habits of city bus drivers. According to TS, the core of this initiative is the integration of the agency’s digital tachograph (DTG) analysis expertise into the Gyeonggi city bus system. This means that every bus equipped with a DTG device will now collect real-time data on 11 types of risky driving behaviors, including speeding, sudden acceleration, abrupt deceleration, and quick lane changes. The aim is clear: use data, not just intuition, to identify and curb dangerous driving before it leads to accidents.
What’s new here isn’t just the technology, but how it’s being used. Instead of simply penalizing drivers for infractions, the system will assign each driver an individual ‘safety driving grade.’ This personalized feedback loop is designed to encourage drivers to reflect on their habits and make safer choices behind the wheel. The safety grades won’t exist in a vacuum, either—they’ll be shared between Gyeonggi’s public management system and TS’s own analysis platform, creating a comprehensive feedback network that both monitors and motivates.
This approach goes hand-in-hand with Gyeonggi’s push for higher-quality public transport services. By using the data as an objective measure within its public management framework, the province hopes to not only reduce traffic accidents but also foster a broader culture of safety among all drivers. TS’s executive director, Jeong Yong-sik, called the agreement “a model case that combines TS’s traffic safety big data know-how with Gyeonggi Province’s administrative power.” He added, “We will continue to use mobility data to create a city bus environment that residents can use with confidence.” Gyeonggi officials echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their commitment to leveraging the new data for both accident reduction and the spread of safe driving culture.
Meanwhile, in the city of Sejong, another innovative project is quietly transforming the daily commute for students in rural areas. On April 8, 2026, the Sejong Special Self-Governing City Office of Education held its regular safety training for drivers of the ‘1,000 Won School Taxi’ program. This initiative, launched in 2024 as part of Sejong’s fourth education pledge, seeks to bridge the transportation gap for students living in areas underserved by public transit. By offering low-cost taxis—just 1,000 won per ride—students who might otherwise struggle to get to school now have a reliable option.
The numbers tell a story of gradual but meaningful progress. In 2025, eight students from five schools participated in the pilot program. This year, the number has grown to thirteen students from three schools currently using the service. But safety remains paramount: every year, drivers receive two rounds of safety and driving instruction, while students also undergo biannual safety education at their schools. The goal, as Sejong’s Director of Financial Administration, Jeong Young-kwon, put it, is to "continue operating the ‘1,000 Won School Taxi’ project so that students in transportation-disadvantaged areas do not face difficulties in commuting to school." He added, "We will do our best to ease the commuting burden for students and parents, and to protect students’ right to commute and learn."
Over in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, the focus is on tackling both a bus driver shortage and the need for improved service through hands-on investment in people. From March to October 2026, Dongjak-gu is offering free bus driver training to 24 local residents who meet specific criteria: they must be registered job seekers at the Dongjak Employment Support Center, hold a type 1 large vehicle license, and have less than one year of bus driving experience. The program is comprehensive, featuring 16 hours of classroom instruction and 24 hours of practical, behind-the-wheel training. Once participants complete the course, they aren’t left to fend for themselves—each receives one-on-one employment support until they secure a job with a local village bus company.
The results have been impressive. In 2024, 68.2% of trainees found employment after the program; in 2025, that figure rose to 83.3%. This isn’t just good news for job seekers—it’s also improving the daily commute for everyone. On March 16, 2026, Dongjak21, a local village bus route, increased the number of vehicles from two to three during the crucial school commute hours of 6:40 to 8:00 AM. This change slashed the waiting time between buses from 20 minutes to just 12, a significant improvement for students and residents alike. Since the adjustment, average daily ridership on the route has jumped from 1,340 to 1,624, according to Dongjak-gu officials.
Dongjak-gu isn’t stopping there. The district plans to prioritize new graduates from the driver training program when assigning staff to these bus routes, and is even considering running all three vehicles throughout the entire day, not just during the morning rush. Mayor Park Il-ha summed up the dual benefits of the program: “Bus driver training creates local jobs and improves public transportation at the same time. We will continue to secure stable transportation manpower and improve route operations so that residents and students can move safely and conveniently.”
What ties these three efforts together is a shared commitment to using data, training, and targeted support to make public transportation safer, more reliable, and more accessible. Each initiative addresses a different pain point—whether it’s risky driving, rural inaccessibility, or staffing shortages—but together, they signal a broader shift toward evidence-based, community-focused transit policy.
It’s too early to declare victory—after all, changing habits, systems, and infrastructure takes time. But the early signs are promising: more students are getting to school safely, more drivers are being trained and employed, and more commuters are enjoying shorter waits and safer rides. If these programs continue to evolve and expand, South Korea’s approach could become a model for other regions grappling with similar challenges in public transportation.
For now, residents, students, and drivers alike are already reaping the benefits of a sector in motion—one that’s proving, step by step, that smart investment and cooperation can make a real difference on the road.