“Passengers Like Family”: 11 Honored as Gangwon Province’s Public Transit Courtesy Champions

【Financial News, Gangneung = Kim Gi-seop】Eleven transportation workers who drive buses and taxis every day, treat passengers like family and practice safe driving have been named this year’s Gangwon Province Public Transit Courtesy Champions.
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province said on the 20th that it held the 2026 Public Transportation Courtesy Champions awards ceremony that day at Hotel Tops 10 in Gangneung, recognizing outstanding transport workers who had contributed to improving public transit services in the province. The winners received commendations from the provincial governor and plaques.
Three winners each were selected from the city and rural bus, regular taxi and private taxi categories, while one winner each was chosen from the intercity bus and charter bus categories. In all, exemplary workers from across the bus and taxi sectors were recognized in five categories.
The province runs the Public Transportation Courtesy Champions initiative to identify transport workers who consistently provide courteous service on the job and take responsibility for residents’ mobility by obeying traffic laws and driving safely, with the aim of advancing traffic safety. Following the awards ceremony, a workshop to foster an advanced traffic safety culture was also held through the 21st, with officials from the provincial, city and county governments taking part. They shared traffic safety policies and discussed ways to improve service quality.
Shin Won-cheol, Gangwon Province’s deputy governor for economic affairs, said, “Transport workers are the ones who first greet residents each day from the driver’s seats of intercity buses, city and rural buses, and taxis,” adding, “Thanks to the winners, who look after passengers like family, obey traffic laws and continue to drive safely, public transportation in Gangwon Province is becoming even more reliable.”

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter