Hwaseong City Launches 'Happy Taxi' Service at 500 Won for Transportation-Underserved Areas

Hwaseong City has launched full-scale operations of its 'Happy Taxi' service for transportation-underserved areas.

The city held an inaugural taxi service ceremony at Jeongnam-myeon on the 31st, attended by Hwaseong City Mayor Chae In-seok and local residents.

The program enables residents in villages where buses do not operate due to road conditions and operational losses to use taxis to reach bus stops or downtown areas. The fare is 500 won per ride regardless of the number of passengers, with the city subsidizing taxi operational losses.

Gwanhang 1-ri, Jeongnam-myeon, Hwaseong City, selected as a pilot project target village, is a relatively large natural hamlet with 155 households and 331 residents. However, the village entrance is narrow and has limited bus ridership, operating only once daily, making it a transportation-isolated area within the urban zone.

Despite residents' continued requests for increased bus service, operational losses have hindered smooth coordination with the bus industry for service expansion.