'50% Discount' Regional Train Travel Launched... Ministries and Local Governments Say "Response to Population Decline"

'Reconnecting Korea, Regional Love Railway Travel'
Launching in August... 10% Fare Discount Followed by Regional Tourism
Visit Attractions to Receive 40% Railway Discount Coupons

To address population decline, central government ministries, public institutions, and local governments will jointly create and operate regional tourism products linked to railroads. Starting next month, railroad-linked regional tourism products with a total discount rate of 50% will be available for sale.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Rural Community Corporation, and mayors and county heads from 23 local governments signed a "Business Agreement for Revitalizing Railroads and Tourism in Population Declining Areas" at Seoul Station. The signing ceremony was attended by about 100 officials, including Go Gi-dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Jang Mi-ran, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Park Beom-su, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Baek Won-guk, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; and local government mayors and county heads.

The local governments participating in this agreement include 22 population-declining areas such as Samcheok in Gangwon, Danyang in Chungbuk, Namwon in Jeonbuk, and Cheongdo in Gyeongbuk, with one area classified as an interested region. Based on the agreement, ministries, public institutions, and local governments will jointly develop tourism products linked to population-declining areas.

First, under the name "Reconnecting Korea, Regional Love Railroad Travel," free travel and package products that allow visits to tourist destinations in population-declining areas using railroads at discounted prices will be sold starting from the 1st of next month. The railroad fare discount rate reaches 50%. Initially, customers purchase round-trip tickets at a 10% discounted price, and upon verifying their visit to the relevant tourist destination, they receive a 40% railroad fare discount coupon for the following month. To receive the discount coupon, visitors must use designated trains to visit the area and authenticate QR codes attached throughout the tourist sites via the Korail Talk app.

A special exhibition called "Create Your Own Train Trip," which allows individuals to freely configure tickets, accommodations, and more according to their preferences, will also begin. Customers can directly select and purchase discounted railroad tickets, accommodations, rental cars, and admission tickets.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to continue efforts to increase the resident population in population-declining areas by developing various railroad travel-related policies in collaboration with the Korea Railroad Corporation using the Local Extinction Response Fund. The resident population concept includes not only the registered residents but also people who actually reside or stay in a specific area to a certain extent.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will strengthen the use of the "Digital Tourism Resident Card" and railroad-linked benefits. The Digital Tourism Resident Card project provides travel discount benefits such as lodging, admission, and experiences to revitalize tourism in 34 population-declining areas. Round-trip train tickets using railroad stations near 12 regions operating the Digital Tourism Resident Card are discounted by 10%. After using the train and visiting benefit sites in the Digital Tourism Resident Card operating areas, a 40% railroad fare discount coupon will also be provided later.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is promoting the rural tourism "Tour Pass" project. This is a rural tourism package product linking rural tourism products and transportation to the area, offering up to a 30% discount on transportation costs when using public transportation.

Baek Won-guk, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "I sincerely appreciate that through this agreement, an organic cooperation system among the signatory institutions has been established and that we have developed railroad travel products to revitalize population-declining areas through active cooperation."

Park Beom-su, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "We expect rural tourism to diversify by practicing carbon neutrality through public transportation service support and providing visitors with various rural experience opportunities."

Jang Mi-ran, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "We will actively collaborate with ministries and institutions on projects that revitalize regional tourism, such as the Digital Tourism Resident Card, to create synergistic effects."

Go Gi-dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "We will continue to actively support the implementation of customized policies that reflect the characteristics of population-declining areas in various fields."