Gyeonggi Province will implement the ‘The Gyeonggi Pass’ project starting July next year, which reimburses part of the transportation costs for all Gyeonggi residents using public transportation regardless of age or route restrictions.
In particular, it is attracting attention as it is expected to provide significantly greater benefits than Seoul’s recently announced ‘Climate Companion Card.’ The Seoul Climate Companion Card is a transportation card worth 65,000 KRW per month, which will be piloted from 2024 and allows unlimited use of public transportation and Seoul’s bike-sharing service, Ddareungi, within the city.
According to Gyeonggi Province on the 18th, the ‘The Gyeonggi Pass’ policy will be introduced in July next year, reimbursing part of the transportation costs when all 14 million Gyeonggi residents use any public transportation nationwide. This card does not require monthly recharging and, unlike Seoul’s Climate Companion Card?which excludes metropolitan buses and the Shinbundang Line?it offers discount benefits when used on all public transportation nationwide. It is expected to be especially beneficial for Gyeonggi residents who mainly use metropolitan buses and the Shinbundang Line.
Gyeonggi Province will also promote the ‘The Gyeonggi Pass’ project in connection with the government’s Metropolitan Area Wide Transportation Committee’s K-Pass project. The K-Pass is a policy scheduled to be introduced in July next year that reimburses 20% of monthly public transportation costs if used 21 times or more per month. The reimbursement amount is higher for youth aged 19 to 34 (30%) and low-income groups (53%).
Gyeonggi Province plans to reimburse 20?53% of transportation costs to Gyeonggi residents who use public transportation 21 times or more per month in connection with the K-Pass project, and additionally invest a separate budget to enhance the benefits of the K-Pass.
First, Gyeonggi Province will expand the limit on the number of public transportation rides from 60 times per month to unlimited and adjust the age range for the 30% reimbursement target youth from 19?34 to 19?39 years old.
Additionally, transportation costs will be supported for children and adolescents who do not benefit from the K-Pass project. The support for children and adolescents’ transportation costs will be carried out by modifying the existing ‘Gyeonggi Province Youth Transportation Cost Support Project’ currently underway in Gyeonggi Province.
To implement ‘The Gyeonggi Pass,’ Gyeonggi Province plans to establish detailed implementation plans for each project through expert discussions with the Gyeonggi Research Institute, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, Gyeonggi Bus Association, and conduct consultations with cities and counties.
Kim Sang-su, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Transportation Bureau, stated, "Gyeonggi Province’s public transportation modes such as regular city buses, metropolitan buses, night buses, and the Shinbundang Line have different fare systems, and due to the wide regional characteristics applying a distance-based fare system, most transportation experts believe that a reimbursement method is more advantageous than a season ticket system." He added, "We will make further efforts to alleviate the economic burden on Gyeonggi residents who are experiencing significant economic difficulties due to high inflation."
According to Gyeonggi Province’s analysis, the average daily number of public transportation users in Gyeonggi is 2.71 million, of which 2.02 million use Gyeonggi buses and 690,000 use the subway.
Meanwhile, at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee’s audit of Gyeonggi Province held on the 17th, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon responded to People Power Party lawmaker Jo Eun-hee’s (Seoul Seocho-gu Gap) remark that "Gyeonggi Province needs measures regarding Seoul’s Climate Companion Card" by stating, "We plan to implement The Gyeonggi Pass, which is far superior to the Climate Companion Card, starting July next year."
Governor Kim Dong-yeon specifically revealed, "The Gyeonggi Pass includes metropolitan buses and the Shinbundang Line for all Gyeonggi residents without age restrictions," and added, "We are considering expanding the age range so that it can be used anywhere nationwide."
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