[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] The expansion of the Happy Call Taxi (Cheonwon Taxi), one of the key pledges of Shim Deokseop, the governor of Jeonbuk Gochang County, is set to begin in earnest.
According to the county on the 9th, the Happy Call Taxi is a project that allows residents of the village to conveniently use a taxi by paying only 1,000 won per person from the village to the town or township center, and from the town or township center back to the village.
The remaining amount, excluding the 1,000 won fare paid by residents, is fully covered by Gochang County.
This year, the county will relax the distance standard for the Happy Call Taxi (Cheonwon Taxi) to 0.5 km (from the village hall to the nearest bus stop) and expand the operating villages to about 150.
Accordingly, the required budget has been significantly increased to 754 million won compared to last year.
Previously, Governor Shim Deokseop pledged during the election to enhance convenient transportation welfare for residents by expanding the operation of the "1,000 won taxi for transportation-vulnerable groups."
A resident of a village where the Happy Call Taxi service was expanded this year said, "It was difficult to move around, the bus stop was too far, and there were few bus routes to the town center, so taking a taxi cost about 10,000 won, which was a heavy burden on transportation expenses. This measure has made things much easier."
The county plans to continuously expand the villages served by the Happy Call Taxi to guarantee residents' right to mobility.
Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil baekok@asiae.co.kr
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