초록
Due to the rapid pace of low fertility and aging of Korea, population decline is rapidly progressing in the outskirts of the province and county. Demand for public transport is decreasing due to suburban population declines, while local government funding for maintenance of the bus system is expected to increase gradually. The government and municipalities are promoting the introduction of Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) in order to reduce the burden of financial support for buses while enhancing mobility of the residents in vulnerable areas. However, most DRTs in Korea have been operated mainly in the areas that are not provided with public transportation services. Although DRT is able to reduce the financial burden of local governments, it is not easy to be introduced because of the objection of the existing bus users. In this study, 11 out of 61 towns with poor public transportation services in Gyeongsangnam-Do were selected for the introduction of DRT to replace bus services by using village characteristics. The results of this study are expected to be used as a basis for decision making to use DRT instead of bus service for the burden of bus financing for local governments.