'100 Won Happiness Taxi' Service to Operate from March on Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Deokjeok, and Yeongheung Islands in Incheon

Incheon City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City plans to operate the public taxi service called '100-Won Happiness Taxi' starting in March in the transportation-vulnerable areas of Ongjin-gun, including Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Deokjeok, and Yeongheung Islands.

The eligible users are elderly residents, low-income individuals, and those with mobility difficulties living in these areas. The service operates by calling a taxi from a private taxi operator via phone.

Users can ride twice per month per person by paying 100 won and using the voucher distributed by Ongjin-gun. The city plans to expand the eligible users within the budget in the future.

The city expects this system to assist island residents who face inconvenience with public transportation and support the local taxi industry struggling due to population decline.

Since 2019, the city has been promoting a rural transportation model project in Ganghwa-gun and Ongjin-gun to provide customized transportation services to residents in transportation-vulnerable areas, supporting the purchase and operation costs of small buses.

The rural transportation model project provides alternative transportation using taxis and small buses for elderly and low-income residents in rural villages who find it difficult to use public transportation such as buses and trains or drive private vehicles.

In Ganghwa-gun, the routes serving transportation-vulnerable areas have been partially adjusted according to residents' demand, operating 13 public buses on 10 eup/myeon (townships) with 9 vehicles. The fares are the same as the existing county bus fares. Last year, over 85,800 people used the service, receiving great response.

In Ongjin-gun, the 100-Won Bus (Happiness Bus) operates on four islands?Socheongdo, Daeijakdo, Soijakdo, and Seungbongdo?where no public transportation exists, with over 15,400 users last year. In January this year, one more bus was added on Uldo Island, making it five islands served by the 100-Won Bus.

An Incheon city official stated, "The rural transportation model is not just a simple transportation service but a social network that helps maintain small rural villages so they do not become isolated or disappear," adding, "We will continue to discover additional target villages and expand the project."