Ulsan Citizens, "Saved 28.5% on Monthly Public Transportation Costs with K-Pass"

Monthly Average Spending of 51,872 KRW, Saving 14,769 KRW with K-Pass

Monthly Average Users 13,077, Up 184.9% from Last Year

Ulsan City’s ‘K-Pass,’ which has been in operation since May, has proven to be a ‘benefactor’ in helping citizens reduce their public transportation expenses.

K-Pass is a transportation card that refunds a certain percentage of public transportation expenses (20% for the general public, 30% for youth, and 53% for low-income groups) the following month when using public transportation such as city buses regularly from 15 to a maximum of 60 times per month.

It improves the convenience of the previously implemented Altteul Transportation Card, which was in effect until April this year, and increases the refund rate.

For example, if an average of 50,000 KRW is spent monthly on public transportation, regardless of travel distance, the general public receives 10,000 KRW back, youth receive 15,000 KRW, and low-income groups receive 26,500 KRW, resulting in annual savings ranging from 120,000 KRW to 318,000 KRW. Considering additional discount benefits from card companies, the effect of reducing transportation costs is expected to be even greater.

When the public transportation support project was first implemented in 2020, only an average of 995 users per month used public transportation 15 times or more to qualify for mileage benefits.

However, since the full-scale implementation, the average monthly users have steadily increased, recording 1,595 in 2021, 2,588 in 2022, and 4,590 in 2023.

Especially since the transition from the ‘Altteul Transportation Card’ project to the ‘K-Pass’ project in May this year, the average monthly users increased by 184.9% compared to the previous year, reaching 13,077.

This year, Ulsan citizens using K-Pass spent an average of 51,872 KRW per month, saving 14,769 KRW on average per month excluding additional discounts from card companies, reducing their monthly public transportation expenses by 28.5%.

The reduction in public transportation expenses is even more pronounced among youth aged 19 to 34 and low-income groups, who receive additional refunds.

Youth spent an average of 53,363 KRW per month this year and saved 16,009 KRW monthly, while low-income groups spent 52,637 KRW and saved 27,898 KRW monthly, reducing their public transportation expenses by 30% and 53%, respectively.

This is the pure refund rate of public transportation expenses from using K-Pass, and when including card company discounts, the perceived savings by citizens are expected to be even higher.

An official from Ulsan City stated, “Although the increase in city bus fares in August has increased the burden of public transportation expenses for citizens, using K-Pass, which can be used anywhere nationwide, allows for a practical refund of a certain percentage of transportation costs, thereby somewhat reducing the burden of transportation expenses. In the second half of next year, we plan to expand the project to U-Pass, a customized public transportation support project linked with the existing K-Pass, to further reduce household burdens for Ulsan citizens and expand public transportation services for socially vulnerable groups. We will make every effort in preparation and promotion.”

Ulsan City Hall.