Route 1154 to Serve the University of Ulsan and Route 123 Restored: Ulsan Metropolitan City’s First-Phase Bus Route Overhaul

[Financial News Ulsan—Choi Su-sang, Reporter] Kim Chang-hyun, chief of Ulsan Metropolitan City’s Transportation Bureau, announced at a media briefing on the 21st that the first phase of the city bus route overhaul would begin on October 3. The measure is intended to address inconveniences that arose after the comprehensive reorganization of city bus routes in December 2024.
Ulsan Metropolitan City will add 15 buses as part of the overhaul. The plan focuses on restoring and expanding routes that residents had frequently requested, while also adjusting intervals between buses and operating routes.
The main changes include adding buses to Route 126, restoring Route 123, adjusting and expanding Route 743, revising the operating routes and frequencies of express-seat buses, and changing the operating times of Buk-gu 12.
First, Route 126 will increase its fleet from six to eight buses. The average interval between buses will be shortened from approximately 44 minutes to 33 minutes.
The restored Route 123 will operate five buses, connecting Cheonsang and Guyeong-ri in Beomseo-eup with Bangeo-dong via Taehwa-dong, Seongnam-dong, and Myeongchon, before continuing to Hyundai Motor Company and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Route 743 will be rerouted and its fleet will increase from six to eight buses, allowing it to take over key functions of the former Route 307. The route will again pass through Guyeong-ri in Beomseo-eup, and its bus intervals will also be shortened.
Some express-seat bus routes will be adjusted to reduce standing passengers and improve punctuality and operational stability.
Route 1154 will be rerouted to pass through the University of Ulsan and Sinbok Intersection, helping distribute demand that is currently concentrated on Route 1224.
Route 1413 will be rerouted via Ulsan Bridge and extended to Kkotbawi. The change will make travel between Cheonsang and Guyeong and Dong-gu more convenient while easing congestion on existing Route 1421.
Some of Route 1115’s operating path will be changed from Yeompo-ro to a route via Asan-ro. The adjustment is expected to reduce travel distance and time while improving punctuality and operating efficiency.
Students’ opinions will also be reflected in bus route operations.
Partially incorporating suggestions from the 'Bukduchilseong Bus Project' proposed by students at Dongcheon High School, Ulsan Metropolitan City will change the Dalcheon departure times of the Buk-gu 12 branch bus from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 4:10 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kim Chang-hyun said, "This first-phase overhaul alone cannot resolve all inconveniences associated with bus use at once. We will closely examine travel demand by region and actual operating conditions, and plan to move toward a more extensive route overhaul in the second half of next year based on residents’ opinions."
However, Kim added, "From a practical standpoint, we did not set a course toward completely dismantling and rebuilding the existing route system."





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