Gwangju City Launches Pilot Operation of 'Cashless City Buses'

Four months until March 31 next year
Introduction after reviewing citizen opinions and more

Gwangju City will pilot the "Cashless City Bus" starting from the 9th. The photo shows a transportation card terminal attached to a Gwangju city bus. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 5th that it will pilot the "Cashless City Bus" from the 9th of this month until March 31st of next year.

Along with the pilot operation, the city plans to comprehensively review the results of a citizen survey and trends in cash usage around February next year to finalize the introduction timing of the "Cashless City Bus."

The city plans to introduce the "Cashless City Bus" as the cash usage rate on city buses has gradually decreased from 2.3% last year to 2.1% as of September this year, and due to unnecessary delays caused by cash payments and safety risks related to giving change during operation. The pilot operation will begin on the 9th.

To minimize citizen inconvenience and increase card usage rates, the city will strengthen on-site promotions and publicity through online and offline media in cooperation with related organizations such as the City Bus Association and labor unions. For groups with a high cash boarding rate, such as the elderly, children, and youth, the city plans to provide guidance on transportation card issuance procedures and usage methods at places like Senior Health Town, welfare centers, and schools.

Additionally, to transition to a "Dae·Ja·Bo (public transportation, bicycle, walking-centered) city," the city will pilot the "Cashless City Bus" ahead of the opening of the "G-Pass" in January next year. During the pilot period, cash boxes will still be operated as usual, but once the system is introduced, cash boxes will be removed, allowing payment only via physical or mobile transportation cards (prepaid, credit, debit) and automatic transfers. For citizen convenience, prepaid transportation cards will also be sold on city buses.

Baek Eun-jeong, Director of Public Transportation, said, "Before the full-scale operation of cashless buses, we will actively conduct tailored promotions by target and timing so that citizens can prepare transportation cards in advance, doing our best to minimize inconvenience."