With the summer holiday season well underway, Buxi is busier than ever. Buxi is a van-sharing service company that offers direct transportation between customers’ homes and Incheon International Airport via minibus for a fee of 20,000 won per person. The company is currently operating in 11 areas: seven districts in Seoul (Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, etc.) and four districts in Gyeonggi-do (Bundang-gu, etc.). 


Buxi’s competitive edge is based on two key factors: its convenience and reasonable price. Customers make reservations via its mobile application, which the company developed itself, 24 hours in advance and are then picked up by a van at either their homes or the airport. The company also helps customers with their luggage, practically providing door-to-door service. The fare is slightly more expensive than that of an airport limousine bus but far cheaper than a taxi or private van. Another important advantage of Buxi’s service is that customers do not need to pay the long-term parking fees or highway toll that they would if they used their own cars. 

Since its launch, the company has upgraded its services. It not only offers boarding assistance (e.g. drivers wear suits and help with the loading and unloading of suitcases) but also provides car seats for babies. For foreign tourists, the mobile app is available in English and Chinese. If the customer applies for the “Only For Us” (charter) service, an entire van can be reserved for family or friends for only 80,000 won. 

CEO Lee Tae-hee said, “We do our best to offer the best service possible at all times, even when there is only one passenger. Demand is highest at night and early dawn as well as in areas not served by the airport limousine buses.” A former reporter for a daily newspaper, Lee is known for his business acumen, which he has proved by establishing Buxi as a stable business since only last April. With its headquarters located in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Buxi has been designated as an incubator company by and currently receives funding from the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. (jshwang@heraldcorp.com)