Hampyeong-gun Operates Disabled Call Taxi Service 24/7 Year-Round

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Acting County Governor Na Yoon-su) will operate the Disabled Call Taxi 24 hours a day, year-round starting this month to improve mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups.

According to Hampyeong-gun on the 10th, the Disabled Call Taxi is a specially manufactured van taxi that allows passengers to board while in a wheelchair. It is a convenient special transportation means for people who have difficulty using public transportation, such as the disabled, pregnant women, and elderly people aged 65 or older.

Earlier, the county anticipated an increase in demand for Disabled Call Taxi usage following the abolition of the disability grading system, and at the end of last year, it significantly expanded the call taxi operating hours to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through ordinance revision.

Additionally, the number of operating vehicles was increased by one through national and provincial government support at the end of last year, and currently, a total of four Disabled Call Taxis are in operation.

In particular, the fare system was restructured to be among the lowest nationwide. Based on daytime rates, the fare within the county is capped at the county bus fare, and outside the county at the intercity bus fare, with a base fare of 500 KRW per 2 km and an additional fare of 100 KRW per 1 km.

However, during late-night hours from midnight to 4 a.m., twice the daytime fare is charged, and for holiday and late-night operations, reservations must be made in advance by the day before the intended use at the Jeollanam-do Metropolitan Mobility Support Center.

A county official stated, “From this year, the eligible users have been expanded from ‘Grade 1 and 2’ disabled persons to those with ‘severe disabilities,’ and the operating area has also been extended to adjacent cities and counties within the province, including Gwangju. Disabled households that have not yet registered for Disabled Call Taxi use are encouraged to prepare the required documents and registration application forms and visit each eup/myeon office or submit them via fax or email to the Jeollanam-do Metropolitan Mobility Support Center.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.