How to Use TABARA Busan: Gijang DRT Bus Guide for Tourists

 If you are planning to visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Osiria, Songjeong, Gijang Market, or other attractions along Busan's eastern coast, you may run into a transportation problem that is less common in central Busan.

The subway and Donghae Line can get you into the area, but they do not stop directly at every attraction. Local buses work, but depending on where you are going, you may face a transfer, a long wait, or an inconvenient walk.

That is where TABARA Busan can be useful.

TABARA is Busan's demand-responsive transit service, or DRT. Instead of following one fixed route and timetable like a conventional bus, TABARA responds to passenger requests and connects designated stops within its service area.

For a visitor, the easiest way to understand it is:

TABARA is an on-demand public bus, not a taxi.

You use the TABARA app to request a ride between designated stops. The system assigns a vehicle, you walk to the pickup point, and you share the ride with other passengers traveling in a similar direction.

The fare is the same as a Busan city bus, but there are some important differences that foreign visitors should understand before relying on it.

This practical guide covers the entire process: where TABARA goes, all 21 Gijang stops, how to install and use the app, how payment works, what to do if your foreign card does not work, luggage restrictions, drinks, group travel, waiting times, and when a taxi or regular bus may actually be the better choice.

Where Does TABARA Go? All 21 Gijang Stops

The Most Useful TABARA Stops for Tourists

How to Use TABARA Busan: Step by Step

Step 1: Download the TABARA Gijang App

Before going to Gijang, download the TABARA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

It is better to do this at your hotel or accommodation while you have reliable Wi-Fi.

Do not wait until you are standing outside Haedong Yonggungsa with a low battery and an unreliable data connection to set everything up for the first time.

Also pay attention to the service area.

Busan now operates TABARA in both Gijang and Gangseo, so make sure you are using the appropriate service for Gijang, Osiria, and Songjeong.

Step 2: Create Your Account Before You Need a Ride

After installing the app, complete the registration process and enter the information requested by the current version of the app.

Do this before your sightseeing day.

App registration procedures can change after updates, so follow the current prompts rather than relying on an old screenshot from a blog or social media post.

Important for Foreign Visitors

If the registration process asks for information or verification that you cannot complete with your overseas phone number or traveler status, do not keep building your itinerary around TABARA until you know you can actually request a ride.

TABARA's public information does not provide enough detail to guarantee that every foreign phone number, foreign identity-verification method, or overseas-issued payment card will work with every version of the app.

If you have difficulty setting up the service, contact the TABARA Customer Center.

TABARA Customer Center: 1533-6343

The currently published customer-center hours are 8:00 AM–7:00 PM, with closure on Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok Day.

This is one reason to install and test the app before your trip to Gijang.

Step 3: Check the TABARA Stops Near You

Once the app is working, look at the available boarding points.

TABARA is demand-responsive, but that does not mean door-to-door pickup.

You cannot stand anywhere in Gijang and ask the driver to come to your exact location.

You must board at a designated TABARA stop.

Similarly, you cannot enter any street address as your destination. Your destination must be one of the supported stops.

This is the biggest difference between TABARA and a taxi.

Step 4: Choose Your Pickup and Destination

Set your boarding stop and destination in the app.

For example:

Songjeong Station → Haedong Yonggungsa

or

Haedong Yonggungsa → Osiria Station

or

Osiria Station → Gijang Market

You then select the number of passengers and your payment method.

TABARA's official instructions tell users to check:

Pickup point + destination + number of seats + payment method

before requesting the vehicle.

Step 5: Enter the Correct Number of Passengers

Do not select one passenger if four people are actually traveling.

TABARA assigns seats according to the number of passengers included in the request.

One person can request a TABARA for a group, and the official information allows up to eight passengers in a single request.

If you are traveling with children, remember to include them when they require a seat.

Children under six can qualify for free travel under Busan's accompanying-child fare rules, but they still need to be included in the reservation when a seat is required.

Step 6: Choose How You Want to Pay

This is an important step for international travelers.

TABARA currently provides two officially documented ways to pay:

Option 1: Transportation Card

You can tap a compatible transportation card on the reader inside the TABARA vehicle, just as you would on a regular Busan city bus.

For most tourists using public transportation around Busan, this is the simplest option.

It also has another advantage:

Eligible public-transport transfer discounts apply when using a transportation card.

If several people are traveling together, one person can request the vehicle for the group while passengers pay individually with their own transportation cards when boarding.

Option 2: Automatic Payment Through the TABARA App

TABARA also allows users to register a credit or debit card under the app's Payment Method Management (결제수단관리) section.

You can then select automatic in-app payment when requesting your ride.

However, there is an important disadvantage:

TABARA's official FAQ states that transfer discounts are not available when using in-app automatic payment.

If you are transferring from a regular Busan bus or continuing onto other eligible public transportation, a transportation card may therefore be the better choice.

Can You Pay With Apple Pay?

Can You Pay With Alipay or WeChat Pay ?

No.

Will a Foreign Visa or Mastercard Work in the TABARA App?

This is another area where it is better not to make promises.

TABARA officially states that credit and debit cards can be registered for automatic payment, but its public guidance does not provide a definitive list of supported overseas-issued card networks or guarantee that every foreign Visa, Mastercard, or other international card will register successfully.

Card acceptance can depend on the issuing bank and the app's payment system.

The practical solution is simple:

Try registering your card before you travel to Gijang.

If it does not work, do not wait until your TABARA arrives to solve the problem.

Use a compatible transportation card instead.

Best Payment Strategy for Foreign Tourists

For most visitors who are already using Busan's subway, trains, and buses, a compatible Korean transportation card is the most straightforward option.

It avoids relying on whether your overseas card will register in the TABARA app and can preserve eligible public-transport transfer discounts.

Think of the app primarily as the tool that requests your TABARA, while your transportation card can handle the actual fare.

Step 7: Request Your TABARA

Once your pickup point, destination, passenger count, and payment method are correct, request the vehicle.

The system will search for a suitable TABARA.

You then select or confirm the available bus according to the information displayed in the app.

TABARA does not operate like a traditional bus timetable.

You are requesting transportation based on current demand.

Can You Reserve TABARA in Advance?

Do not plan on TABARA like a scheduled airport shuttle.

TABARA is designed around real-time demand rather than a traditional timetable.

That means you should not build a tightly scheduled day around the assumption that a specific vehicle will arrive at exactly 10:15 AM because you planned it the night before.

Check availability when you are actually ready to travel.

This matters especially if you have:

• a timed Lotte World ticket;
• a restaurant reservation;
• a train to catch;
• an attraction closing soon; or
• another appointment with a fixed start time.

Leave some buffer in your schedule.

Step 8: Check Your Assigned Vehicle and Pickup Location

After requesting the ride, carefully check the information displayed in the app.

Do not assume that the nearest normal city-bus stop is automatically your TABARA stop.

Go to the specific pickup point assigned for your ride.

This is especially important around large attractions, stations, shopping complexes, and parking areas where several boarding locations may be close together.

Step 9: Get to the Stop Before TABARA Arrives

Do not wait inside a café until the exact arrival time shown in the app.

TABARA is shared public transportation, not a private driver waiting specifically for you.

Its official FAQ indicates that a very short wait may sometimes be possible, but the driver cannot wait indefinitely. Traffic conditions, weekends, busy periods, or a stop where the vehicle cannot remain safely may make waiting impossible.

Repeated cancellations or no-shows can also cause temporary restrictions on requesting another TABARA.

Once your vehicle is assigned, start moving toward the pickup point.

Step 10: Board, Pay, and Check Your Trip

When the correct TABARA arrives, board at the designated stop.

If you selected transportation-card payment, tap your card on the vehicle's reader as required.

Once aboard, the TABARA app can show information about your journey and current location.

Remember that you are sharing the vehicle.

The bus may pick up or drop off other passengers before reaching your destination.

Why Your TABARA May Not Take the Shortest Route

This sometimes surprises first-time users.

TABARA is not a taxi.

Suppose you request:

Songjeong → Haedong Yonggungsa

Another passenger nearby may request a ride in a similar direction.

TABARA can combine those journeys.

That passenger might be picked up along the way, and depending on the route calculated by the system, another passenger could even get off before you despite boarding after you.

This is normal for demand-responsive transit.

Traffic, new requests, cancellations, and passenger pickups can also change your estimated arrival time.

If arriving exactly on time matters more than saving money, a taxi may be the more appropriate choice.

How Much Does TABARA Cost?

Can You Bring a Suitcase on TABARA?

Final Tip: Use TABARA to Solve the Awkward Part of Your Gijang Trip

The best way to use TABARA Busan is not to make it the center of your transportation plan.

Instead, use it to solve the parts that are inconvenient by conventional public transportation.

Take the subway, train, or regular bus for longer journeys across Busan. Once you reach the eastern side of the city, check TABARA when you need to move between places such as Songjeong, Haedong Yonggungsa, Osiria, Gijang Market, and other Gijang attractions.

And remember the three rules that matter most for a first-time foreign visitor:

Set up the app before you go.

Carry a reliable payment option rather than depending only on Apple Pay, Alipay, or an untested foreign card.

Do not treat TABARA like a taxi—especially if you have large luggage or need to arrive somewhere at an exact time.

Once you understand those limitations, TABARA becomes much easier to use and can be a very practical addition to your transportation options when exploring Gijang and Busan's eastern coast.

감사합니다.