Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province has officially proposed short- and long-term measures to the education office to address long-distance commuting issues for high school students in new residential development districts.
The city announced on the 3rd that it recently visited the Goyang Office of Education to discuss operating school buses using chartered buses and the need to establish new high schools.
The city emphasized that high school students in new development areas such as Jichuk and Deokeun districts are experiencing difficulties due to long-distance commuting, and stressed the establishment of new schools as a fundamental solution. Under the "Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of Urban Campuses" implemented on January 22, education superintendents can establish urban campuses without central investment review when there is a need to address long-distance commuting or overcrowded classrooms.
As a short-term measure, the city proposed operating chartered bus school services. Under the revised Passenger Transport Service Act enforcement decree amended in April last year, education superintendents and directors can now directly contract and operate chartered buses for commuting purposes. The city explained that a direct-to-school service after gathering students at residential collection points is suitable for Goyang's spatial structure. It also noted that the limited-license circular school bus system being implemented by some local governments may be efficient when students are concentrated at specific hubs, but in Goyang, where residential areas and schools are widely distributed, travel routes could become longer and actually increase commuting times.
The city also expressed willingness to share part of the costs during a pilot operation. The city's position is that Goyang should promptly adopt such a system, as direct chartered bus operation models like Incheon's "Student Success Bus" have already proven effective.
A Goyang City official said, "Long-distance commuting issues are directly linked to student safety," adding, "We will create tangible changes through a two-track strategy of school bus operations and new school establishment."