Eunpyeong-gu Operates 'I-Mom Taxi' for Pregnant Women and Infants' Families

Support for Transportation Service via Dedicated Taxi for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants Under 12 Months Visiting Hospitals for Medical Purposes

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will pilot the ‘I-Mom Taxi’ project for three days from the 27th to the 29th of this month and officially launch it on the 31st to create a child-friendly village.

The I-Mom Taxi is a service that facilitates transportation through dedicated taxis when pregnant women and families with infants under 12 months visit hospitals or clinics for medical purposes, in collaboration between Eunpyeong-gu and local taxi companies.

Families with pregnant women and infants must regularly visit hospitals or clinics for various checkups and vaccinations, but it is difficult to use general public transportation due to mobility challenges.

To resolve these inconveniences, the I-Mom Taxi operates with large vans (Carnival vehicles) to accommodate multiple children and strollers. Considering passenger characteristics, the taxis are equipped with car seats, vehicle air purifiers, and mandatory daily interior disinfection to ensure convenience and safety.

Applications for using the I-Mom Taxi are made through an app. After installing the dedicated I-Mom Taxi app called ‘Macaron Namu,’ signing up, and receiving approval from the Eunpyeong-gu administrator, users can make advance reservations.

Advance reservations are possible from three days to three hours before the service, starting from August 27, the first day of the pilot operation. After using the I-Mom Taxi service, users must submit proof documents (such as medical receipts or confirmation letters) through the app. Since residents use the taxi via the app contactlessly, it is convenient for users and easy to manage.

Eunpyeong-gu targets approximately 4,500 families with pregnant women and infants in the area. Families with infants under 12 months as of the application date can use the service free of charge up to twice a day and ten times a year. However, this year, free use is limited to eight times annually.

Operating hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The service is limited to within 8 km from the departure point within the district, which is expected to contribute to revitalizing the local economy in Eunpyeong.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “The I-Mom Taxi project greatly contributes to creating a happy Eunpyeong where it is easy to have and raise children by helping families with pregnant women and infants who find it difficult to use public transportation. It is also expected to encourage the use of local hospitals and clinics, contributing to the development of the local economy.” She added, “Although we plan to operate with four vehicles this year considering the early stage of the project, if the response is positive based on monitoring results, we will actively work to expand the eligible children’s age and the number of vehicles to enhance convenience for residents.”

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