Gyeonggi Province to Reimburse Youth Bus Fares Using 'Gyeonggi Regional Currency'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced it will begin accepting applications for the '2021 First Half Youth Transportation Support Project' starting July 1.

The 'Youth Transportation Support Project' is a program first introduced in the 7th Popular Elected Administration to ease the transportation burden for economically disadvantaged youth ages 13-23 residing in the province, as bus fares in the province increased starting in the second half of 2019.

Transportation fare support for this period will be provided by reimbursing youth who used Gyeonggi buses (city/village buses) from January to June with actual transportation costs up to 60,000 won (annual limit of 120,000 won) in the form of regional currency.

Supported transportation includes Gyeonggi metropolitan buses (regular, wide-area, M buses, Gyeonggi Circular buses) and village buses.

Support is also available for transit to Seoul and Incheon buses and subway fares within 30 minutes before and after using Gyeonggi metropolitan and village buses (within 1 hour between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day).

Support applications can be submitted from July 1 to August 16 through the 'Gyeonggi Province Youth Transportation Support Portal Website (www.gbuspb.kr)' after member registration.

New members must first register a public authentication certificate to confirm residency in the province, then register the 'transportation card number' they use and the 'regional currency number' for reimbursement.

Existing members who joined more than 10 months ago can log in, verify their transportation card and regional currency information are correct, then renew their residency verification through public authentication certificate and submit their application.

However, if using a new card due to loss or other reasons, registered card information must be added (transportation card) or modified (regional currency). Members who joined less than 10 months ago do not need to go through residency verification via public authentication certificate.

The 'transportation card number' can be a prepaid transportation card (T-money, Cashbee, etc.) that the youth actually used or a credit-based transportation card in the applicant's own name.

Credit-based transportation cards in the names of parents or others cannot be applied for.

The 'regional currency number' must also be applied for in the applicant's own name; however, youth aged 13 who cannot receive regional currency or have difficulty obtaining it due to not having their own mobile phone can apply using the regional currency number of a parent or household head.

The Province is sending mobile home communication notices containing application methods through related organizations including the Gyeonggi Province Office of Education, and is conducting promotional activities using G-Bus TV, provincial and municipal government websites, blogs, SNS, and major road bulletin boards to ensure many youth benefit.

Lee Ho-won, Director of Gyeonggi Province's Bus Policy Division, stated, "Following last year, we believe this project this year will not only ease youth transportation burden but also contribute to revitalizing the local economy through regional currency reimbursement," adding, "We will do our utmost in project implementation to ensure seamless provision of transportation support for all youth in the province."

The 2021 second half youth transportation support project application and acceptance will be conducted in the early part of next year, through which youth in the province can receive up to 120,000 won in annual transportation fare reimbursement in regional currency.

For more detailed information about the support, contact the Gyeonggi Province Youth Transportation Support Portal Website (www.gbuspb.kr) and the Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation Gyeonggi Province Youth Transportation Support Call Center (☎1577-8459).