Bok Ki-wang pushes to reform bus semi-public management system to boost public value

Lawmakers, civic groups, government officials and academic experts are set to gather to discuss reforms to the bus semi-public management system, a publicly funded regime that has come under scrutiny over its effectiveness.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Bok Ki-wang, who represents Asan-gap in South Chungcheong Province, announced Friday that he will co-host a policy forum titled "Seeking Alternatives to Strengthen Public Interest in the Bus Semi-Public Management System" on Tuesday at Seminar Room 2 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building, alongside fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-gap and Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-o.

According to Bok, the forum was organized to comprehensively review the achievements and limitations of the semi-public management system as it marks its 20th year, assess pressing concerns including the weakening of public interest due to private equity fund entry into the sector, and discuss fundamental reform measures such as improving transparency in fiscal support and fare structures and strengthening verification of standard transport cost calculations.

The event draws particular attention because it is being co-hosted by lawmakers who previously served as heads of local governments.

"Operations must be transparent given that public funds are at stake, and accountability must accompany support," Bok said. "We will restore public transit service that satisfies the public by enhancing the public interest and sustainability of the semi-public management system."

"We are facing the challenge of a system where the fiscal burden keeps growing while ridership actually declines," Park said. "We must now respond to the public's question of whether service has improved in proportion to the budget invested, and further raise operational transparency and public accountability."

"We must break the structure in which bus companies' profits are guaranteed with taxpayer money while settlement amounts and expenditure details by operator are not sufficiently disclosed," Yoon said. "We need to shift to a system where the public takes responsibility for managing route rights so that buses are operated in a more public-oriented manner."

The forum will be moderated by Hwang Ji-wook, chairman of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice's Urban Reform Center. Kim Sang-cheol, policy center director of the Public Transportation Network, will present on "Restructuring the Passenger Transport Business Act for Bus-Regime Innovation," while Kim Jeong-gon, managing chairman of the CCEJ Urban Reform Center, will present on "Proposed Reform Tasks for Citizen-Centered Bus Policy."