Gyeonggi Province Introduces Children-Only Transit Card

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 6th that it will introduce a children-only transit card starting by the end of this month to resolve inconveniences faced by children using buses.

Previously, Gyeonggi Province had only adult and youth (middle and high school student) transit cards, causing inconveniences for children aged 6 to 12 when using city buses or village buses. They were also unable to receive transfer discounts or fare reduction benefits that apply when using transit cards.

The province has signed an agreement with the bus association and transit card company EB, confirming the introduction of the children's transit card. Currently, the program is undergoing testing, with implementation planned by the end of this month or no later than March 1st.

Once the children's transit card is introduced, approximately 60,000 children who use the service daily will no longer face the inconveniences involved in the cash payment process.

The province is actively reviewing a plan to provide children's card holders with fare discounts and transfer discount benefits equivalent to those granted to adults and youth, with transfers within city buses offered at a discount if made within 30 minutes, timed with the anticipated bus fare increases in the Gyeonggi region.

Furthermore, should the metropolitan Seoul area integrated public transportation fare system be implemented in the latter half of this year involving Seoul, Incheon, and other areas, children using the transit card will be able to access all buses and subways in the metropolitan region and receive transfer discount benefits, significantly alleviating inconveniences for children.

Currently, adults and middle and high school students in the Gyeonggi region receive 50-won discounts on city buses and 100-won discounts on intercity buses when using transit cards. When transferring on city buses within 30 minutes, they receive an additional 400-won transfer discount benefit.

The transit card to be introduced by the province is a prepaid card priced at 1,500 won, after which users charge the card as needed.

A provincial official stated, "We plan to introduce the children's transit card by the end of this month to resolve the inconveniences children feel when riding buses," adding, "Once the bus fare increase plan for Gyeonggi Province is confirmed in the near future, we will provide discount benefits for card use, and once the metropolitan public transportation integrated fare system is implemented in the latter half of this year, public transportation use will become much more convenient."