Paju launches village bus route 079 to connect Haeoeum neighborhood with GTX stations

Paju city announced Tuesday that it will launch village bus route 079, a new urban transit model service connecting the Haeoeum neighborhood with Unjeong Station and Unjeong Central Station, with regular service beginning Wednesday.

Residents of Haeoeum had long faced inconvenience because no village bus route ran directly to Unjeong Station, making trips to the station and the nearby Starfield Village shopping complex difficult. Students traveling between Haeoeum and the neighboring Garam and Byeolharam villages also had to transfer buses during morning and afternoon school commutes.

Route 079 departs from Unjeong Station and stops at Garam village, Sannae village, Haeoeum village and Mulhyangi village before terminating at Unjeong Central Station. Three buses will operate the route 36 times a day, with headways of 25 to 30 minutes. The first departure is at 5 a.m. and the last at 11:30 p.m., with the same schedule on weekdays, Saturdays and public holidays.

The route is expected to serve as a transit link connecting the GTX-A line and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, easing residents' travel difficulties while improving commuting convenience and school access for students.

Paju has been pursuing its urban transit model project to improve public transportation access and expand rail-connected networks. Route 079 is part of that effort: the city issued a call for bus operators in August, selected a final operator in September, completed pre-launch checks, and held a test ride Monday before the official launch Wednesday.

"The launch of route 079 will ease the travel difficulties faced by Haeoeum residents and further strengthen the GTX-connected transit network centered on Unjeong Station and Unjeong Central Station," Paju Mayor Son Bae-chan said. "Going forward, we will build a more convenient and comprehensive public transportation system that reflects the needs of residents and local conditions."