Jeong Junho Preliminary Candidate Announces 'Youth 100-Won Bus Fare' Pledge

Jeong Jun-ho, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for the Buk-gu (Gap) electoral district in Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced a transportation welfare pledge called the ‘Youth 100-Won Bus Fare System.’

This youth welfare pledge aims to significantly reduce the transportation costs for middle and high school students and guarantee safe and convenient mobility rights.

Under the slogan ‘Double the Value of Buk-gu!,’ Candidate Jeong recognized the seriousness of the increasing transportation cost burden on youth as part of his livelihood pledges and emphasized the need for free movement of youth during main school commuting hours.

Although concerns have been continuously raised that as youth transportation expenses increase, household burdens rise and educational rights may be infringed upon, attempts to reach social consensus have failed repeatedly, and the issue has been postponed due to budgetary reasons.

Last November, Gwangju City announced the introduction of free transportation for children starting this May, but middle and high school students, who are in more urgent need of benefits, were excluded from the program, leading to media criticism that it was a half-hearted policy.

According to 2022 data, the average daily public transportation usage in Gwangju was 5,625 rides for children aged 12 and under, while youth aged 13 and above accounted for 33,684 rides, overwhelmingly higher. Additionally, the current Gwangju Metropolitan City bus fare is 800 won for youth and 400 won for children when using transportation cards, meaning the transportation cost burden is much greater for youth.

In response, Candidate Jeong Jun-ho pledged to resolve the transportation cost burden by implementing a 100-won bus fare system for middle and high school students who commute long distances.

The main content is that youth aged 13 to 18 can use the bus for 100 won during key commuting hours on weekdays, from 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.

The Youth 100-Won Bus Fare System is expected to reduce transportation costs for families raising students, improve youth transportation welfare, and promote public transportation usage.

Candidate Jeong Jun-ho said, “We will relieve the transportation cost burden on families with youth,” and added, “I hope that the youth of Gwangju can freely pursue their dreams for the future in a world without worries about mobility.”