Jo O-seop "High-speed rail fare system unchanged for 15 years... Needs reorganization"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Although the high-speed rail fare system is operated based on 'speed per section,' it has been pointed out that the same fare is applied when considering the time for the same section, which is unfair.

On the 21st, Assemblyman Jo O-seop (Gwangju Buk-gu Gap, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee & Budget Committee) stated, "Korea Railroad Corporation's high-speed rail fare system applies different rates per kilometer for high-speed and conventional lines, along with service-specific rates and long-distance perception rates."

Korea Railroad Corporation applies fares for high-speed rail as follows: 164.41 KRW per km for sections with speeds over 300 km/h, 140.91 KRW per km for sections between 200 and 300 km/h, and 108.02 KRW per km for sections under 200 km/h.

Additionally, discounts based on perceived distance such as high-speed line perception rate, total distance perception, and over 400 km perception are applied, effectively applying fares based on 'time relative to distance.'

However, the actual travel time for KTX Sancheon No. 429 from Yongsan Station to Gwangju Songjeong is 1 hour 35 minutes, while KTX No. 430 from Gwangju Songjeong to Yongsan Station takes 2 hours 6 minutes, showing a 31-minute time difference, but the basic fare is the same at 46,800 KRW and the first-class fare is 65,500 KRW.

Also, for the Seoul Station to Busan Station route, KTX No. 017 takes 2 hours 15 minutes, and KTX Sancheon No. 031 takes 2 hours 47 minutes, a 32-minute difference, but the basic fare of 59,800 KRW and first-class fare of 83,700 KRW are applied equally.

Notably, KTX No. 065 on this route takes the same 2 hours 15 minutes as KTX No. 017 but charges a higher basic fare of 60,200 KRW and first-class fare of 84,300 KRW because it has a non-stop station in between.

Currently, although the fare system is said to be based on speed per section, passengers must pay the same fare despite time differences of over 30 minutes on the same route.

Assemblyman Jo O-seop said, "If the second phase of the Honam High-Speed Railway and the double-tracking and high-speed upgrades of the Jeolla Line proceed as planned, fares on the Yongsan?Mokpo section are expected to increase by 4,000 KRW, and on the Iksan?Yeosu Expo Station section by more than 10,000 KRW," adding, "It is necessary to realistically reflect time relative to distance and comprehensively overhaul the unreasonable fare system established 15 years ago."