Capital Region Pursues 'Distance-Proportional' Public Transit Fares

It has been confirmed that three metropolitan cities—Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province—are pushing forward with a 'distance-proportional public transportation fare system' for buses and subways.

A provincial official stated on the 25th, "Since entering the fourth term of the civilian government, we are making preparations including holding working-level meetings with Seoul and Incheon to introduce a new public transportation fare system based on charging fares according to the distance traveled," and added, "We will be able to present concrete alternatives by October of this year."

If the distance-proportional public transportation fare system is implemented, fares for public transportation such as buses and subways crossing municipal and provincial boundaries will increase in proportion to the distance traveled, regardless of the number of transfers or mode of transportation.

To this end, the province plans to launch a 'Bus Improvement Promotion Team' headed by a Ph.D. from the Gyeonggi Research Institute on the 2nd of next month, and will prepare policy alternatives regarding ▲integrated fare promotion ▲fare system restructuring ▲bus company management improvement.

The fare system under review by the province is known to charge a basic fare for up to 10㎞ regardless of municipal and provincial boundaries, mode of transportation, or number of transfers, with a fixed charge imposed for every 5~10㎞ interval.

Meanwhile, the current fare collection systems for buses and rail transit operating in the capital region differ by local government, and there are various issues such as the lack of transfer discount benefits when taking buses from Gyeonggi Province to Seoul, creating inconvenience for commuters.