Tourist DRT brand name confirmed as ‘Tabayon’

Yongin Special City has decided on the brand name of the tourism-type demand-responsive transit (DRT) connecting major transportation hubs in the Korean Folk Village area as ‘Tabayong’ and plans to start a six-month trial run starting in late September. The fare is 1,450 won for adults, and discounts are given when transferring to other transportation such as buses or subways.

[Korean Today] The brand name of Yongin City’s tourism-type demand-responsive transportation that will operate at major transportation hubs around the Korean Folk Village has been decided as ‘Tabayong’. © Reporter Na-yeon Kim

Yongin Special City (Mayor Lee Sang-il) announced on the 27th that it has decided on the brand name of the demand-responsive transit (DRT) that connects major tourist attractions and transportation hubs, including the Korean Folk Village, as ‘Tabayong.’ ‘Tabayong’ is a combination of ‘Tabayo,’ which means recommending taking the bus, and ‘Joa-yong,’ the representative character of Yongin Special City, and has gained high popularity among citizens as it is friendly and easy to remember.

Yongin City conducted a brand name preference survey targeting citizens from August 8 to 22, and the results showed that ‘Tabayong’ received the most support. ‘Tayong’ and ‘Yongin Call Bus’ followed with high preference.

‘Tabayong’ will begin full-scale trial operation from the end of September, and during this period, it will connect major tourist destinations in Yongin City and transportation hubs such as Giheung Station and Sanggal Station. The trial operation will last for 6 months, and 3 15-seat mid-sized buses will be deployed on weekdays and 4 on weekends.

Gyeongnam Passenger Transport was selected as the passenger transport company for this DRT operation, and Studio G will be in charge of operating the DRT platform. ‘Tabayong’ can be used not only for tourism purposes but also by ordinary citizens, and the method of use is simple. At the stop you want to board, select the number of passengers and destination through the mobile app, call the DRT vehicle, and pay the fare with a transportation card.

The fare is set at 1,450 won for adults, the same as the Gyeonggi-do city bus fare, and discounts are also provided when transferring to other means of transportation such as buses or subways.

City officials said, “Demand-responsive transportation may be somewhat unfamiliar, but it will supplement the narrow transportation network in the region, making it convenient for citizens to use.” They added, “We hope that many citizens will use ‘Tabayong,’ and the city will thoroughly manage it so that there are no inconveniences in the process of using it.”

Meanwhile, the Yongin City Industrial Promotion Agency plans to implement a ‘railway-linked DRT pilot project’ connecting Singal-dong, Giheung-gu and Dongcheon Station on the Shinbundang Line for one month from September 10 to October 14 to ensure the stable introduction of the DRT system ahead of the operation of ‘Tabayong’.