Free buses for foreigners

A free shuttle bus for foreigners is now running between Seoul and Busan.

The new route for the 28-seat limousine bus with DVD players and wireless Internet was launched on Mar. 2 by the Visit Korea Committee and the Busan Municipal Government.

It is the third route in a series of free shuttle services from the VKC offering foreigners cost-free travel, expected to run throughout 2010. Free buses also run between Seoul and Gyeongju as well as Seoul and Jeonju. All buses run once every day except Mondays.

The Seoul to Busan “Dynamic Line” departs at 8 a.m. form in front of the Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun, arriving at 2:30 p.m. at the Paradise Hotel in the Haeundae area of the city. The return trip departs from the Paradise Hotel at 4 p.m. and arrives back in Seoul at 10:30 p.m.

The Seoul to Jeonju “Dynasty Line” service leaves from the same place at 8 a.m. to arrive at Jeonju’s Hanok Village at 11 a.m. Its return trip starts at 5 p.m. and arrives in Seoul at 8 p.m.

Those traveling on the “Millenium Line” to Gyeongju should depart from Seoul at 8 a.m. to arrive at the Gyeongju Bomun Complex at 1 p.m.. Returning travelers can leave at 4 p.m. to get back to Seoul at 9 p.m.

International visitors to Korea may reserve two bus tickets at a time through the Visit Korea Year website at www.visitkoreayear.com, available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese. Reservations must be made 10 days in advance to guarantee a seat. Remaining unreserved seats will be allotted as they are available. All passengers are required to bring a valid passport to board the bus. Call 02-1577-2507, or e-mail: visitkorea@chesstours.co.kr for more information.

(kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)