Yeongyang County Launches Free Rural Bus Rides for All Residents

From January 5, 2026

Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province will implement free rural bus rides for all residents starting January 5, 2026.

There will no longer be a need to look for bus fare when boarding.

This is an expansion of the free rural bus policy for residents aged 70 and over, which has been in effect since July. Now, any Yeongyang resident can receive a free transportation card and use rural buses within the county (Yeongyang Companion Bus) at no cost.

Applications for the free transportation card can be made at the local town or township office based on one's registered address. In principle, the applicant must visit in person, but minors may have their guardians apply on their behalf after verifying the family relationship.

However, those who already possess preferential transportation cards, such as for seniors, people with disabilities, or national merit recipients, should be aware that issuing a Yeongyang free transportation card may deactivate the existing preferential benefits. Therefore, it is important to listen carefully to the staff's guidance before deciding whether to apply.

The free rural bus program for residents aged 70 and over, jointly implemented by Daegu City and 18 cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province, received a 100% satisfaction rate among seniors and an 84% preference rate among the general public, indicating highly positive feedback.

With the implementation of free rural bus rides for all residents, Yeongyang County plans to continuously analyze user satisfaction and usage patterns, and actively utilize this data as a foundation for future public transportation planning and route adjustments.

Additionally, starting in 2026, Yeongyang County will introduce the K-Pass program, which refunds a portion of public transportation expenses based on income group for residents who use public transportation at least 15 times per month.

Any resident with an address in Yeongyang can apply. After receiving a K-Pass card from a partner card company and registering as a member on the K-Pass website or app, the card can be used as a transportation card anywhere nationwide.

Lee Insu, Head of the Rural Economy Division, stated, "This year, with the introduction of free rides for seniors aged 70 and over, transportation card payments became available on rural buses within the county. Next year, with the implementation of free rural bus rides for all residents and the K-Pass program, we expect the quality of life for our residents to improve even further. We will continue to strive for significant improvements in transportation welfare by analyzing satisfaction and usage patterns among rural bus users."

Yeongyang County Office.