Gyeonggi-do to Provide Up to 120,000 KRW in Youth Transportation Subsidies Starting July

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will begin the 'Youth Transportation Expense Support Project' as early as July.

The Youth Transportation Expense Support Project was first introduced during the 7th local government administration to alleviate the transportation cost burden for economically vulnerable youths aged 13 to 23 in the province, who frequently use public transportation for commuting. Up to 120,000 KRW per person annually, a portion of the actual transportation expenses will be reimbursed in local currency.

On the 12th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it has finally selected the Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters as the operating agency to ensure the smooth operation of the 'Youth Transportation Expense Support Project' starting this year.

The Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters will build the platform for receiving transportation expense support applications by June and proceed with administrative procedures such as recruiting related personnel. The province expects the project to be implemented from July if the plan proceeds as scheduled.

Before the full-scale launch of the project, the province will also focus on publicity to ensure that no youths miss out on transportation expense support benefits due to lack of awareness about the project.

First, in cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and others, the province is promoting measures such as sending mobile home notices and posting promotional posters on school bulletin boards to directly inform middle and high school students and university students in the province about the project in line with the school opening period.

Additionally, the province will conduct publicity activities using various media such as G-Bus TV, neighborhood meetings notices, blogs, and SNS to ensure that all residents are aware of the Youth Transportation Expense Support Project.

To receive transportation expense support, users must use a prepaid transportation card or a postpaid transportation card registered under their own name. Only one transportation card designated by the applicant can be used for the application. The province will provide retroactive support for usage records starting from January of this year.

Eligible transportation means include city buses (standard, wide-area, M-bus, Gyeonggi Circulation) and village buses within the province.

The province also supports fares for Seoul and Incheon buses and subways used within 30 minutes before or after transferring to city or village buses.

Park Tae-hwan, Director of the Transportation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized, "We will make every effort to promote the project in advance through the media and new media to ensure smooth implementation," adding, "Detailed project schedules will be separately announced around June on the Gyeonggi Province website."