Free Transportation Support for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants and Toddlers for Hospital Visits
On January 16, Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Kim Mikyung) announced that it is continuing to operate the 'Imom Taxi' program, which helps improve transportation convenience for pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers.
'Imom Taxi' is a service jointly operated by Eunpyeong-gu and local taxi companies, providing dedicated taxi rides for pregnant women and families with children under 24 months when they visit hospitals or clinics for medical purposes.
This program was first launched in 2020 as a nationwide initiative to address low birth rates and to prevent infections among pregnant women and infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of uses has now exceeded 64,000. Many other local governments, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are benchmarking this service and implementing similar programs.
Now in its seventh year, 'Imom Taxi' conducts annual user satisfaction surveys to improve its services. In addition to hospitals and clinics, after 2 p.m., the service also supports transportation to five public facilities related to infants and toddlers within the district, such as daycare centers, libraries, and cultural centers.
Families wishing to use the service must sign up as members through the 'Imom Taxi' app and apply in advance. Reservations can be made from three days up to 30 minutes before use, and supporting documents must be submitted via the app within 14 days of use.
Imom Taxis operate as large vans equipped with car seats and in-vehicle air purifiers. The interior of each vehicle is disinfected daily to ensure safety and hygiene.
The service also supports long-distance rides, including to 14 general hospitals in the Seoul area, helping to ease the burden for families who regularly visit major hospitals. The service can be used free of charge up to twice a day and 10 times per year.
Kim Mikyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, "Through the Imom series of programs, such as Imom Taxi and Imom Playground, which are highly popular among residents, we are providing practical support to families with infants and toddlers. We will continue to take the lead in making Eunpyeong a happy place to raise children."
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