Gyeongju City to Greatly Expand Free Taxi Service for Seniors Starting Next Month

Recharge Amount Increased to 160,000 KRW, Single Payment Limit Raised to 12,000 KRW
Free City Bus Service for Seniors to Begin in the Second Half of the Year
Enhanced Transportation Welfare for Senior Citizens

Gyeongju City in Gyeongbuk Province will significantly improve public transportation convenience to guarantee mobility rights for senior citizens starting from the New Year 2025.

On the 15th, Gyeongju City announced that it will greatly expand the support benefits of the free taxi service for seniors aged 70 and older starting next month.

Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju City (left), is taking a taxi to inspect the status of the free taxi service project.
[Photo by Gyeongju City]

With this measure, the free taxi card recharge amount will increase from the current 132,000 KRW to 160,000 KRW from the 1st of next month until the end of the year.

Additionally, the single payment limit will be raised from 8,000 KRW to 12,000 KRW. However, any amount exceeding this limit must be paid by the user directly.

Due to system modifications and improvements, the free taxi service will be temporarily suspended for the entire month of January, and any unused balance will expire if not used by December 31.

This expansion reflects the issues of insufficient recharge amounts for seniors and the demands of the taxi industry following the increase of the basic taxi fare from 3,300 KRW to 4,000 KRW in August 2023.

Gyeongju City expects this measure to reduce transportation costs for seniors while also having a positive impact on the local taxi industry.

The basic fare free taxi service for seniors is a welfare project implemented by Gyeongju City since June 2022, and residents aged 70 or older can apply through their local eup, myeon, or dong administrative welfare centers.

Mayor Joo Nak-young of Gyeongju said, “Along with the expansion of the free taxi service, the free city bus service for seniors aged 70 and above, which will be implemented from the second half of this year, will greatly enhance transportation welfare,” adding, “We will do our best to prepare various support measures to improve mobility convenience for seniors.”