Nationwide First Implementation... Full Launch of 'Gwangandaegyo Smart Tolling System' from February 1 Next Year

Automatic Vehicle Number Recognition Toll Charging System Allowing Non-Stop Passage Without Deceleration

Vehicles Without Hi-Pass Devices Can Pay Tolls via 'Pre-Registration' or 'Voluntary Payment' Methods

Busan City and Busan Facilities Corporation will be the first in the nation among local government-managed toll roads to fully implement the ‘Gwangandaegyo Smart Tolling System’ starting February 1 next year.

Gwangandaegyo Smart Tolling.

‘Smart Tolling’ is a system that automatically charges toll fees by recognizing the license plate of vehicles in motion regardless of whether they are equipped with Hi-Pass devices. This system does not require separate toll booths and allows vehicles to pass through without slowing down, operating as a non-stop system.

Vehicles already using Hi-Pass devices can continue to use them as usual, while vehicles without devices can choose between ‘pre-registration of payment methods’ or ‘voluntary payment’ to pay toll fees.

The ‘pre-registration of payment methods’ option allows users to register their payment method in advance on the Gwangandaegyo pre-registration website, enabling automatic payment through the registered method when passing through the ‘Smart Tolling’ system.

The ‘voluntary payment’ option allows users to pay directly via the Gwangandaegyo website or call center within 15 days after the travel date.

After the 15-day voluntary payment period, toll fees will be billed via electronic invoices, and if the electronic invoice is not received or accessed, a paper invoice will be sent by mail.

To encourage the use of Hi-Pass and pre-registration payment services, a toll discount system will be implemented that offers a 100 KRW discount on toll fees by vehicle type for vehicles using either Hi-Pass or the pre-registration service.

Vehicles exempted under the ‘Ordinance on Toll Collection for Toll Roads in Busan Metropolitan City,’ such as multi-child family vehicles and Duribal, can be automatically exempted through the Exempt Vehicle Management System.

If exempt vehicles do not use Hi-Pass, no invoice will be issued by the Exempt Vehicle Management System.

If exempt vehicles use Hi-Pass devices, toll fees will be charged after passing through, but automatic refunds will be processed by the Exempt Vehicle Management System without any separate procedures. If the vehicle owner wishes to avoid any toll charges altogether, they can pre-register their Hi-Pass electronic card number on the Gwangandaegyo website to be immediately exempted.

▲ Exempt vehicles under the ‘Ordinance on Toll Collection for Toll Roads in Busan Metropolitan City’

Vehicles with three or more children, city buses, airport limousines, outstanding business vehicles, excellent taxpayer vehicles, filial piety vehicles, model worker vehicles, vehicles used for welfare projects for the disabled, electric vehicles, hydrogen electric vehicles, taxis without passengers, etc.

Vehicles based in Busan City belonging to national merit recipients, disabled persons, and others requiring confirmation of the occupant’s identity under the ‘Toll Road Act’ can be exempted by selecting and applying for a method to verify occupant identity.

When using the ‘Integrated Welfare Card Hi-Pass,’ exemption can be processed by applying for the Integrated Welfare Card Hi-Pass discount service on the Korea Expressway Corporation highway toll website.

For users of the ‘Hi-Pass Discount Device,’ exemption is possible by recognizing fingerprints on the device before passing through.

Except for the two cases above, exemption can be processed by pre-registering exemption details through consent to mobile phone location information on the Gwangandaegyo website.

Exemptions under the ‘Toll Road Act’ include disabled persons, national merit recipients, independence merit recipients, vehicles of May 18 Democratic Movement injury victims, and vehicles of those affected by Agent Orange and its aftereffects.

Details on pre-registration of payment methods, exempt vehicles, and more can be found on the Gwangandaegyo website. On the first day of the Gwangandaegyo Smart Tolling System implementation, February 1, 2025, tolls will be waived to facilitate the system transition.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “With the implementation of the ‘Gwangandaegyo Smart Tolling System,’ vehicle congestion caused by toll payments will improve,” and added, “Citizens who do not use Hi-Pass devices are encouraged to use the pre-registration service for more convenient access to Gwangandaegyo.”