South Korea on Friday launched a new premium express bus service with nearly flat seats that will provide long distance travelers with first-class comfort and experience.

The new premium bus has 21 passenger seats, instead of 28 in previous premium models, allowing each seat to recline up to 160 degrees, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Each seat is also equipped with a personal display monitor, providing various content from movies and TV programs to music and games.

The new premium bus service is currently available only for trips to Busan and Gwangju, and the fares are set 1.3 times higher than those of the conventional premium express bus service.

"The new premium express bus will once again make express buses an important means of transportation, while it will also help improve overall public transportation services by competing with other means of travel, including express train and airline services," the ministry said in a press release. (Yonhap)