Abolishing the Progressive Rate System for Households and Introducing a Single-Rate System...
Three-Year Gradual Fee Increase Planned
Gyeryong City in South Chungcheong Province will implement a full increase in sewage usage fees and partially revise the fee structure, starting with the bills issued in August 2025.
This is the first increase in eight years since 2016. According to the city, the measure is aimed at making the fees more realistic and ensuring the sustainable operation of the sewage system.
As of July 25, the city explained that it had maintained a low fee structure to stabilize public utility charges. However, the continued financial burden caused by high sewage treatment costs has made a fee adjustment inevitable.
In particular, for household use, the previous progressive rate system resulted in higher costs for families with more members, such as multi-child households.
Therefore, the city decided to switch to a single-rate system, judging that the previous structure was inconsistent with the government's policy direction to encourage childbirth.
Sewage fees will be increased in three phases until 2027. The first phase, applied from August 2025 to June 2026, will see an increase of 16.5% to 27.5% depending on the usage category. The second phase, from July 2026 to June 2027, will increase fees by 14.3% to 21.1% compared to the first phase. The third phase, starting in July 2027, will raise fees by 12.3% to 17.4% compared to the second phase.
Compared to the current rates, the total increase by category will range from 50% to 81.4%. Specifically, the adjusted fees will be: ▲Household use: 266 to 400 won per 1㎥ ▲General use: 404 to 635 won ▲Bathhouse use: 312 to 566 won ▲Industrial use: 386 to 611 won ▲Public use: 496 to 744 won.
For a standard household of three using 20㎥ per month, the monthly bill will rise from 5,320 won to 8,000 won, resulting in an additional monthly cost of 2,680 won.
The current sewage fee cost recovery rate in Gyeryong City is 15.3%, which is significantly lower than both the national average and the Chungnam provincial average.
The city plans to use the additional revenue from this fee increase to improve aging infrastructure, such as replacing sewage pipes and repairing facilities, and to ensure stable sewage treatment.
A city official stated, "To minimize the burden on citizens, we decided to implement the increase in three phases over three years. The increased revenue will be used to create a more pleasant living environment for citizens and to maintain sewage facilities, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation."
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