Save 1,300 Won a Day... Metropolitan Wide Discounted Transportation Card Expanded Across Major Cities

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card project, which offers benefits of up to 1,300 KRW per day and up to 40,000 KRW per month, will be expanded nationwide.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Transport Committee announced on the 5th that the Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card project, promoted as a government national agenda, will be expanded to cover all 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province and 7 metropolitan cities. In Seoul, Jongno, Seocho, and Gangnam districts are included, and nationwide the project will be implemented in 101 cities, counties, and districts across 13 provinces and metropolitan cities.

The Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card system provides mileage rewards of up to 20% proportional to the distance traveled by walking or cycling when using public transportation. Additionally, about 10% extra discounts from card companies are also offered.

Since its launch, the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee has continuously focused on improving the system of the Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card. This year, along with expanding the project areas, efforts will be made to increase benefits and enhance user convenience.

Initially, the Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card provided 250 KRW for every 800 meters traveled regardless of public transportation expenses. However, last year, the mileage rewards were adjusted based on public transportation spending. If a user travels 800 meters by walking or cycling and spends more than 3,000 KRW on public transportation, they can accumulate 450 KRW per trip, up to 900 KRW per day. Based on a maximum of 44 trips per month, users can save up to 19,800 KRW.

Starting from the 9th, additional mileage will be provided to low-income youth. Depending on public transportation expenses, up to 200 KRW will be given, allowing low-income youth to receive up to 650 KRW per trip (when spending exceeds 3,000 KRW). This is about 28,600 KRW per month, a 44% increase from the previous maximum of 19,800 KRW. Considering card company discounts, benefits can reach up to 40,000 KRW per month.

A Ministry of Land official said, "This policy is for young people who heavily rely on public transportation but inevitably feel the burden of transportation costs. Especially for low-income youth who commute across metropolitan areas and feel the burden of long-distance transportation costs, the effect of reducing public transportation expenses will be significantly felt."

User convenience will also be improved. Until last year, only two card companies, Shinhan Card and Woori Card, were available for the Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card collaboration. This year, Hana Card has been added to increase options. Each card company offers 10-20% discounts on public transportation fares, as well as various discounts on daily expenses such as convenience stores, cafes, and hospitals.

The Ministry plans to simplify the mobile application operation process and introduce a mobile payment system so that the Metropolitan Discount Transportation Card can be used with just a smartphone.

To expand the project scale, the funding method will also be changed. Until last year's pilot project, the entire budget was funded by the national government, but from this year, the national and local governments will each cover 50%, reducing the national budget burden while increasing the number of beneficiaries. Accordingly, the mileage budget for this year is set at 5.8 billion KRW, with 2.9 billion KRW each from national and local governments, and it is expected that about 70,000 to 100,000 people will benefit.

Jang Gu-jung, Director of Metropolitan Transport Fare at the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee, said, "The Discount Card project has been confirmed through last year's pilot project as a key policy tool that can reduce transportation costs while revitalizing public transportation." He added, "Since the full-scale Discount Card project will be implemented from this year, we will actively strive to ensure that the public can feel the policy effects and that the system takes root completely."

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