Cheongyang County Expands "Happiness Taxi" Usage to Eight Rides per Month

Stable Weekly Access to Essential Living Zones Assured

On June 2, Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province announced that it would expand the monthly usage limit of the "Happiness Taxi" service to eight rides per household, in an effort to improve transportation convenience for residents in underserved areas.

The county increased the previous allowance from four round trips per month per household to eight rides (four round trips), so that residents in areas with poor transportation infrastructure can reliably travel at least once a week to essential living zones using the Happiness Taxi.

The Happiness Taxi service is operated for residents living in areas not served by bus routes or in remote and isolated villages.

Currently, about 760 people in 498 households benefit from the service, including households with students attending local schools and senior households living more than 800 meters from the nearest bus stop.

The service operates between each household and essential facilities such as the nearest town or township office, public health center, and intercity bus terminal. Residents only need to pay 1,000 won per ride, while the county fully covers the remaining taxi fare as a compensation for losses.

The county stated that by expanding this policy, it aims to address the risk of population decline caused by aging and low birth rates in rural areas, and to strengthen transportation welfare.

It is also expected to help alleviate management difficulties in the taxi industry and increase the frequency of residents’ travel, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

A county official said, "We are preparing various measures to address the ongoing issue of insufficient transportation infrastructure, which is a characteristic of rural areas," adding, "We will work to substantially improve transportation welfare by reflecting the voices of residents in remote and isolated areas."