Dramatic Reduction in Public Transportation Costs for Users Starting January 1, 2026
Refund Benefits Apply to All Public Transportation, Including City Buses, Village Buses, and Subways
Daejeon City will introduce the "Card for Everyone" starting January 1 next year, which allows citizens to receive a full refund of any public transportation expenses that exceed the monthly refund threshold.
This initiative is expected to significantly ease the transportation cost burden for citizens who frequently use public transportation for commuting to work or school.
Together with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Metropolitan Transport Commission), Daejeon City will expand and reorganize the public transportation fare refund support program (K-Pass) from January 1, 2026, aiming to dramatically reduce the transportation costs for public transportation users.
The refund threshold will be applied differently by region, taking into account factors such as the state of public transportation infrastructure. The country will be divided into four regions-metropolitan area, general local area, and special preferential support areas-reflecting local characteristics such as population decline. Daejeon City will be subject to the "general local area" refund threshold.
Through this, the city plans to ensure that users in regions with relatively less favorable public transportation conditions will also receive tangible benefits.
The "Card for Everyone" will be available in two types: standard and plus. Taking into account the fare differences by mode of transportation, the standard type applies only to modes where the one-time fare (including transfers) is less than 3,000 won, while the plus type applies refunds to all public transportation modes regardless of fare level.
The refund benefits will apply to all public transportation, including city buses, village buses, and subways, and can be used nationwide, not just in the metropolitan area but also in local regions. Users can continue to use their existing K-Pass cards without the need to issue a new card.
In particular, considering that users’ travel patterns may change each month, there is no need to pre-select a refund method. The K-Pass system will automatically calculate the total monthly usage and apply the most advantageous refund method (standard or Card for Everyone) for the user.
If public transportation is used infrequently, the existing K-Pass method will apply. If usage is high, the Card for Everyone (standard or plus) will be applied, so the more frequently it is used, the greater the refund benefit.
In addition, to encourage public transportation use among the elderly and guarantee their right to mobility, a new category for seniors aged 65 and older will be added to the standard refund method (K-Pass), expanding the benefits.
However, seniors aged 70 and older residing in Daejeon City can use city buses, village buses, and Bus Rapid Transit (B1) lines without any limit on the number of rides for free through the Daejeon City free transportation card.
Alongside this, the user interface for the K-Pass app and website will be improved to make it easier for users to check their refund amount and estimated refund.
Nam Sideok, Director of Transportation for Daejeon City, stated, "As economic difficulties are growing, the burden on the main users of public transportation-working-class citizens and youth-is increasing. We expect that the expansion and reorganization of K-Pass with the introduction of the Card for Everyone will not only reduce transportation costs for citizens but also greatly promote the use of public transportation."
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