50% Toll Reduction for Jung-gu Residents' Vehicles Starting in June
Automatic Discount for Privately Owned Vehicles Registered in Jung-gu Without Separate Application
When vehicles owned by Jung-gu residents in Seoul pass through Namsan Tunnel No. 1 or No. 3, the congestion toll will be reduced by 50%. On May 1, Jung-gu (District Mayor Kim Gilseong) announced that, starting from June 1 this year, the Namsan congestion toll for vehicles owned by Jung-gu residents will be reduced from the current 2,000 won to 1,000 won.
From June this year, the congestion toll for Namsan Tunnel for Jung-gu residents will be reduced by 50%. Provided by Jung-gu.
The discount applies to "privately owned vehicles registered in Jung-gu." As of the implementation date, Jung-gu residents will automatically receive the discount without needing to apply separately.
Jung-gu assessed that this achievement is the result of the district's persistence and efforts to protect the daily lives and rights of its residents. As Jung-gu encompasses Namsan, the district has consistently raised its voice with residents, arguing that it is unfair to pay a toll simply to return home.
The Namsan congestion toll was introduced in 1996 to alleviate downtown traffic congestion. In 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted a two-month "temporary suspension of congestion toll collection" experiment to improve the toll, which had been maintained for 27 years. Afterwards, an M-Voting poll was conducted to reflect citizens' opinions. The district seized this opportunity, actively encouraging residents to participate in the M-Voting so that their voices would be heard.
In addition, the district formed a consultative body with residents living near the Namsan Tunnel and submitted a petition with signatures from more than 8,000 people opposing the toll to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The district also actively participated in policy advisory meetings and public hearings, consistently voicing the inconvenience experienced by Jung-gu residents and making multifaceted efforts.
Although the outbound toll was abolished in January last year, the inbound toll remained, so the inconvenience persisted. In response, the district continued to advocate for the necessity of a reduction through various channels, including the Seoul city budget briefing, persistently persuading the city government until Seoul finally responded.
In January of this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government pre-announced a revision to the "Seoul Metropolitan City Congestion Toll Collection Ordinance" that included a congestion toll reduction for privately owned vehicles registered in Jung-gu. The ordinance passed the Seoul Metropolitan Council plenary session on April 25 and will be fully implemented starting in June. At one point, there was consideration of limiting the discount to just six neighborhoods near the tunnel, but thanks to the district's continued efforts, the scope of the reduction was expanded to cover all of Jung-gu.
Kim Gilseong, the district mayor, said, "The reduction of the Namsan Tunnel congestion toll is the result of the tireless efforts made by Jung-gu and its residents working together," adding, "Jung-gu will continue to stand at the forefront to protect the rights and convenience of its residents."
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