Issuance of Prepaid Dongbaek Pass Cards with Transportation Card Function Begins from March 18
Usage Exceeding KRW 45,000 per Month After Charging, Excess Amount Within KRW 45,000 Limit Refunded via Dongbaekjeon
Low-Credit Users, Youth, and
Busan City is introducing a new 'Prepaid Dongbaek Pass' to promote the use of the integrated public transportation discount system 'Dongbaek Pass,' the first of its kind nationwide, and to strengthen public livelihood stability and transportation welfare.
The existing Dongbaek Pass postpaid transportation card operates on a credit card system where transportation card usage fees are paid postpaid on the bank's card payment date. However, citizens with low credit ratings, such as debt defaulters who are restricted from issuing credit cards, teenagers, and foreigners, have had difficulty benefiting from the Dongbaek Pass.
The city will introduce the prepaid Dongbaek Pass, which allows users to charge transportation card amounts in advance, starting from March to enable more citizens to use the Dongbaek Pass.
The 'Prepaid Dongbaek Pass' supports both charging Dongbaekjeon and transportation card balances. After charging the transportation card amount, if the monthly usage exceeds 45,000 KRW, the excess amount within the 45,000 KRW limit will be refunded as Dongbaekjeon.
The prepaid Dongbaek Pass card will be available for issuance starting March 18. Card issuance and Dongbaekjeon charging can be done through the Dongbaekjeon app or any branch of Busan Bank, while transportation card charging is available at subway stations, convenience stores, and via the 'Easy Recharge Station' app.
Card issuance is available to all citizens aged 18 and older. For teenagers (aged 13 to 18), a separate refund limit will be set considering their lower public transportation fares, and they will be able to use the service starting in the second half of this year.
In line with its status as a global hub city, the city will also provide Dongbaek Pass guidance services translated into foreign languages to enable foreigners to conveniently use Busan's public transportation with the Dongbaek Pass. English guidance for the Dongbaek Pass can be accessed through the city's English website and QR codes, and promotion will also be conducted via the city's foreign language newspapers (English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese).
Jung Im-su, Director of the City Transportation Bureau, stated, “The prepaid Dongbaek Pass can be freely used by simply issuing the card without the need to open a bank account, allowing low-credit individuals and foreigners who had difficulty obtaining postpaid transportation cards to benefit from the Dongbaek Pass.” He added, “Starting in the second half of this year, we will expand the target group to include teenagers and implement the Dongbaek Pass, and by linking with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s K-Pass, we will strive to become the nation’s best public transportation-friendly city where all citizens can enjoy the benefits of the Dongbaek Pass.”
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