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The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been operating its late-night 'owl buses' (올빼미 버스) since 2013. Starting on June 26 this year, it has started operating early-morning 'chipmunk buses' (다람쥐 버스), too. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)


By Xu Aiying and Kim Young Shin


The Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced four new bus routes that connect the capital region's busiest spots, it announced on June 26. 

Bus No. 8761 connects Gwangheungchang Station along subway line No. 6 and the National Assembly on Yeoui-do. 

Bus No. 8771 runs between Gusan Middle School in Eunpyeong-gu District in northwestern Seoul and Nokbeon Station along subway line No. 3. 

Bus No. 8551 connects Bongcheon Station along subway line No. 2 and Naryangjin Station along subway line No. 1.


Finally, bus No. 8331 runs between the Macheon Sageori intersection in Songpa-gu District and Jamsil Station along subway line No. 2. 

These buses only operate for two hours per day between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. They are called “chipmunk buses” because they repeat the same short route over and over, like a chipmunk on a treadwheel. 

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the buses run every 6 to 8 minutes and are expected to shorten waiting times at bus stops by 3 to 4 minutes during the morning rush hour. 

The “chipmunk buses” will operate test runs for one or two months. Depending on their effectiveness and responses from citizens, the buses may have additional routes or run during the evening rush hour, too. 

Late-night “owl buses” have been operating between 11:40 p.m. and 6 a.m. since 2013, and they are seeing more and more passenger numbers. In May this year, 10,325 citizens took an "owl bus." The Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced four new bus routes that connect the capital region's busiest spots, it announced on June 26. Bus No. 8761 connects Gwangheungchang Station along subway line No. 6 and the National Assembly on Yeoui-do. Bus No. 8771 runs between Gusan Middle School in Eunpyeong-gu District in northwestern Seoul and Nokbeon Station along subway line No. 3. Bus No. 8551 connects Bongcheon Station along subway line No. 2 and Naryangjin Station along subway line No. 1. Finally, bus No. 8331 runs between the Macheon Sageori intersection in Songpa-gu District and Jamsil Station along subway line No. 2. These buses only operate for two hours per day between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. They are called “chipmunk buses” because they repeat the same short route over and over, like a chipmunk on a treadwheel. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the buses run every 6 to 8 minutes and are expected to shorten waiting times at bus stops by 3 to 4 minutes during the morning rush hour. The “chipmunk buses” will operate test runs for one or two months. Depending on their effectiveness and responses from citizens, the buses may have additional routes or run during the evening rush hour, too. Late-night “owl buses” have been operating between 11:40 p.m. and 6 a.m. since 2013, and they are seeing more and more passenger numbers. In May this year, 10,325 citizens took an "owl bus."