South Korea has introduced women-only night bus services in selected areas, giving female commuters a dedicated option for traveling home after dark.
The service was launched in response to safety concerns faced by women using public transportation late at night, particularly employees working evening and overnight shifts. The buses are equipped with CCTV cameras and emergency panic buttons designed to help passengers quickly call for assistance when they feel threatened.
The move builds on South Korea’s earlier efforts to make nighttime travel safer for women. Seoul has introduced nighttime escort services and other safety programs, while previous women-only transport initiatives were also aimed at reducing harassment and sexual crimes during late hours.
“We’re hoping that this will reduce sexual crimes at night,”
Seoul metropolitan transportation official Shin Man-cheol said during an earlier women-only transit initiative.
Female commuters have also previously backed the idea of dedicated late-night transport spaces.
“I will use it when I’m coming back home really late,”
teacher Byeon Sun-young said when Seoul earlier proposed women-only subway cars.
The newer night bus services add modern security measures to that approach, including onboard surveillance and emergency systems. The goal is to give women another transport option during hours when streets, stations and buses may be less crowded.
South Korea already records relatively high levels of perceived personal safety. In 2022 and 2023, 74% of Korean women said they felt safe walking alone at night, higher than the OECD average of 66%.
