Hwasun-gun Receives Great Response for 1000 Won Bus and 100 Won Taxi Services

[Hwasun=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Jeonnam Hwasun-gun (Governor Gu Chung-gon) is receiving positive responses from rural residents as the ‘1000-won bus,’ which can go anywhere in the Hwasun area, is now in operation.

According to the county on the 9th, the 1000-won bus, along with the ‘Mom Comfortable 100-won Taxi’ for remote villages and pregnant women, is helping improve the mobility rights and transportation welfare of vulnerable groups in rural areas such as the elderly and students.

Since the start of the 1000-won bus operation on the 1st of last month, the county has been recognized for establishing a rural transportation welfare model by expanding the target users of the 100-won taxi and increasing the number of call taxis for the disabled.

These policies are representative transportation welfare pledges of the 7th local government administration, significantly enhancing transportation convenience not only for the transportation vulnerable but also for residents.

The 1000-won bus is a rural bus operating in the Hwasun area that charges a flat fare of 1000 won for adults.

As long as the route is within the Hwasun area, the same fare applies regardless of the route or distance traveled.

The fare is 1000 won for adults, 800 won for middle and high school students, and 500 won for elementary school students (with a 100-won discount when using a transportation card), with the county subsidizing the remaining fare to reduce the economic burden on residents.

When using a transportation card, one free transfer within 30 minutes is allowed.

However, if traveling outside the Hwasun area, such as to Gwangju Metropolitan City or nearby regions, the regular rural bus fare applies.

The county expects a dual benefit from operating the 1000-won bus by supporting the transportation industry, which has been struggling due to a decrease in passengers caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and reduced working hours, while revitalizing public transportation and reducing the economic burden on residents.

Last year, the county revised an ordinance to expand the usage target of the ‘100-won Filial Taxi,’ which had been operating for seniors aged 65 and older in transportation-vulnerable village areas.

The county renamed the ‘100-won Filial Taxi’ to ‘Mom Comfortable 100-won Taxi’ and significantly expanded the support targets to include pregnant women, infants and toddlers, basic livelihood security recipients, low-income households, and multicultural families.

Additionally, the call taxi for the disabled, which has been operating since 2012, will be renamed the ‘Special Transportation for the Transportation Vulnerable’ starting next year, expanding its target users to include not only the disabled but also seniors aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and temporary wheelchair users.

Currently, six call taxis for the disabled are in operation, with one more vehicle scheduled to be added next year.

From the perspective of providing mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups who find it difficult to use public transportation, the county plans to continuously expand operations to enhance the mobility rights and transportation welfare of socially disadvantaged people with physical difficulties.

Governor Gu Chung-gon said, “With the operation of the 1000-won bus, the expansion of the Mom Comfortable 100-won Taxi, and the call taxi for the disabled, we have guaranteed the mobility rights of transportation-vulnerable groups and socially disadvantaged people and established a rural transportation welfare model. We will continue to strengthen the transportation welfare system and strive to ensure the stable operation of the three major transportation welfare models.”

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