Yangcheon District to Provide up to 300,000 Won in Subsidies for Electric Bicycle Purchases

Applications Open Until the 19th of Next Month

Yangcheon District in Seoul (Mayor Lee Kijae) will provide up to 300,000 won per person in subsidies to 100 residents for the purchase of electric bicycles, aiming to promote zero-emission electric bicycles as a daily mode of transportation that can replace cars.

Lee Kijae, Yangcheon District Mayor, riding a bicycle with residents (right in the photo). Provided by Yangcheon District Office.

The "Electric Bicycle Purchase Subsidy Program" was introduced by the district in 2022 to encourage the use of eco-friendly transportation. Over the past three years, the program has provided more than 80 million won to a total of 273 recipients out of over 3,000 applicants, recording an average competition rate of 9 to 1, which demonstrates its popularity.

The subsidy covers up to 50% of the purchase cost, with a maximum of 300,000 won per person for one bicycle. Eligible products are electric bicycles with a Pedal Assist System (PAS), where the motor operates only when the pedals are in use. These pedal-assist electric bicycles are classified as bicycles under the Bicycle Act, allowing them to be used on dedicated bicycle paths.

Applicants must be residents aged 18 or older who have maintained their address in the district for at least two consecutive years. A total of 100 bicycles will be subsidized, with 20 units specifically allocated for residents in need of social support, such as recipients of basic livelihood security, those in the lower-income bracket, persons with disabilities, and national merit honorees.

Applications can be submitted online through the Yangcheon District integrated reservation portal until the 19th of next month. The district will select 100 recipients through an electronic lottery and will also choose an additional 300 reserve candidates to account for ineligible applicants or those who withdraw.

Yangcheon District has established a total of 61.75 kilometers of bicycle paths and regularly conducts "bicycle path safety inspections" to ensure that residents can use bicycles, an eco-friendly mode of transportation, more safely. In addition, the district is leading the effort to create a bicycle-friendly environment by implementing comprehensive support policies, including "safety education" for beginner cyclists, "bicycle insurance enrollment" for all residents, and a "bicycle theft prevention system" in academy districts.

Mayor Lee Kijae stated, "We are systematically implementing various policies to ensure the safety of both bicycle users and pedestrians," and added, "We will continue to actively develop and promote diverse policies that can improve the environment, such as practicing carbon neutrality, and protect the health of our residents, creating a safe and healthy city."