Horse Dance Your Way to Gangnam ? Gangnam trolley tour bus plagued with operating deficits.

Gangnam, in southern Seoul, passes for a hip, savvy place in Korea among international visitors thanks to the popularity of K-pop sensation Psy’s music video “Gangnam Style.”

The song’s popularity is fading into history, but the district has become a tourist magnet, attracting internationals and K-pop fans alike. It has luxury brand stores and fancy restaurants lined along the streets. But, most of all, it is home to major entertainment agencies such as SM, JYP and Cube Entertainment. Some 150 small and big agencies prosper in the area.

The Gangnam district opened a trolley bus tour program for Korean and foreign tourists beginning on Dec.12 last year hoping to garner more attention and profits from this gangnam craze worldwide.
However, only 2500 passengers used this trolly bus program in the last three months, just 30 passengers a day on average, falling far behind of Annual target of 60,000 passengers.

Gangnam-gu office is trying to promote and pick up sales through signing an MOU with major Korean travel agency and waiting to see how sales would go up during march,april and may, its peak season.

The “trolley bus” stops at 21 tourist attractions such as Apgujeong Rodeo Street, SM Entertainment, COEX, Garosu-gil, and Dosan Park. It accepts 20 different currencies and like the center it is operated year-round from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The 16-seat bus offers free interpretation services in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, and free Wi-Fi and VOD (video on demand) services.