Gwanak-gu, led by District Mayor Park Jun-hee, has been rolling out community-focused transit policies tailored to the needs of residents in a district characterized by steep hills and elevated terrain.
As part of that effort, the district introduced a free shuttle called the "Gwanak Ganggamchan Bus" in December last year to improve mobility for elderly residents and others with limited transit access, and to make public cultural facilities more reachable.
Seven months after its launch, the Gwanak Ganggamchan Bus has surpassed an average of 1,000 daily riders, establishing itself as a primary mode of transport for residents in transit-poor areas. Daily ridership stood at 307 during the pilot phase, climbed to 1,069 in June — roughly 3.5 times the initial figure — and reached 1,089 in July, continuing a steady upward trend.
Two 25-seat vehicles operate the service on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., running through the Nangok, Nanhyang-dong and Namhyeon-dong areas, which have limited access to public transportation. Route 1 connects Seongmin Welfare Center, Habsil Pass and Nanhyang-gil, while Route 2 links the Gwanaksan entrance, Sadang Station and Namhyeon-gil — both winding through steep inclines to reach key public and cultural destinations including welfare centers, a public health clinic, Gwanak Park Golf Course and the Seoul Museum of Art Namseoull.
Routes and stop locations were determined from the outset based on resident feedback, and the service has been consistently refined since launch by incorporating suggestions from riders.
The shuttle has earned recognition as a community-centered transit welfare policy for improving hilltop residents' access to public and cultural facilities and easing mobility difficulties for those with limited transportation options. Beyond its role as a simple shuttle, it functions as a "lifestyle bus" supporting residents' everyday travel — from hospital visits and welfare facility use to participation in cultural activities.
The district is also linking the Gwanak Ganggamchan Bus to local commerce to help stimulate the neighborhood economy. Riders on Route 2, which runs between Sadang Station and the Gwanaksan entrance, receive information about nearby businesses and discount promotions on board, naturally encouraging visits to local shops.
Anyone can ride for free by downloading the Gwanak Ganggamchan Bus app and obtaining a boarding pass via QR code, providing convenient access to Gwanak-gu's public cultural facilities. Riders who have difficulty using a mobile phone may present their ID to the driver instead.
"I am deeply proud that the Gwanak Ganggamchan Bus — which we launched with great ambition to improve mobility for residents who had long been underserved by public transit and to help them access public cultural facilities — has achieved such clear results with such an enthusiastic response from the community," District Mayor Park said. "We will continue to listen to voices from the field and deliver policies that are truly essential to residents' daily lives."
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