On March 10, a new shuttle bus route was introduced, supplanting the hourly shuttle bus route to Wolpyeong (KAIST) Station and back. A 24-passenger minibus was commissioned for this task and is under direct management from KAIST’s administrative departments. The shuttle bus is currently available eight times a day on weekdays. The new shuttle is expected to address the increasing student demand for a consolidated intracity transportation system.
The KAIST Undergraduate Student Council and Graduate Students Association worked in conjunction with the General Affairs Team to provide students with the new bus route. Originally aimed to enter service in September of last year, several delays pushed the introduction to March of this year. Accessibility by students was also emphasized. The bus stops at three locations on campus: the Auditorium (E15), Educational Support Building (W8), and the Duck Pond.
Due to the lack of public transportation on campus, accessibility to key transportation hubs and landmarks in Daejeon had been not only inconvenient but also costly for the average student. Students were required to walk long distances in order to access public transportation. Also, the cab fare often skyrockets to 10,000 Korean Won for a single trip to Dunsan District, especially during rush hour. The new shuttle route was designed to provide students a new form of transportation that offers economic feasibility and accessibility.
The new shuttle route experienced delays in procuring its custom-manufactured vehicle when Hyundai Motors, the previous contractor, went on strike. A new contract with General Motors Korea was signed in May 2013, and the shuttle was delivered to KAIST last October. Furthermore, due to budgetary issues, weekend and night operations have currently been suspended. The General Affairs Team is currently collecting statistical data from students’ usage of the new shuttle route to fully address their needs.
The new route travels to several significant locations in Daejeon: Wolpyeong (KAIST) Station provides subway transportation to Daejeon Station, City Hall, and Jungangno; Government Complex Daejeon Bus Terminal provides various intercity bus routes; Galleria Timeworld Department Store and its surrounding vicinity is the de facto downtown area of Daejeon, home to a number of offices, shops, and restaurants. 

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