Disabled Call Taxi Available 24 Hours... Priority Given to Wheelchair Users

Notice of Legislative Proposal for Amendment of Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Act on Transportation Vulnerable Persons
"Efforts for Integrated Reservation System Establishment, Education, and Promotion"

Disabled Call Taxi Service / Photo by Seoul City

[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] From now on, wheelchair users and other transportation-disadvantaged individuals will be able to use special transportation services for the transportation-disadvantaged (disabled call taxis) 24 hours a day.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th that it will give prior notice of the amendment to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the "Act on the Promotion of Convenience in Mobility for the Transportation-Disadvantaged" (Transportation-Disadvantaged Act), focusing on improving the service level of special transportation for the transportation-disadvantaged. The period is from the 5th of this month to the 15th of next month. After going through procedures such as consultation with related ministries and review, it will be enforced from July 19.

So far, the government has supported the purchase cost of special transportation for the transportation-disadvantaged who have difficulty using public transportation. However, there have been many criticisms that the service is inconvenient due to differences in usage hours and operating ranges depending on residential areas, and that inter-regional movement is restricted. Accordingly, the government amended the Transportation-Disadvantaged Act to allow national subsidies for part of the operating costs of special transportation, which had been managed by local governments.

The amendment to the Enforcement Decree specifies operating hours and movement ranges so that all local governments nationwide apply the same operating standards. Operating hours will be 24 hours a day regardless of the day of the week, and the operating range for a single trip has been expanded to include the province to which the city or county belongs, as well as neighboring special and metropolitan cities.

In addition, local governments are obligated to give priority to transportation-disadvantaged individuals using wheelchairs over those who do not when using special transportation.

The criteria for special transportation users have also been improved. In principle, users are defined as severely disabled pedestrians, and elderly people aged 65 or older can be added to the eligible users through local ordinances according to regional circumstances.

The current legal vehicle allocation for special transportation is based on the number of severely disabled pedestrians (one vehicle per 150 people). However, since eligible users include the elderly and can be additionally designated by ordinance (such as pregnant women, companions with infants, foreign visitors to Korea, etc.), an imbalance in boarding supply and demand has occurred.

In non-urban areas (cities and counties with populations under 100,000), where the use of public transportation or special transportation is relatively limited, the legal vehicle allocation standard for special transportation has been raised from one vehicle per 150 severely disabled pedestrians to one vehicle per 100. Approximately 320 additional vehicles will be secured in 87 out of 161 cities and counties nationwide.

The role of the Special Transportation Mobility Support Center will also be improved. The center provides transfer and linkage services so that transportation-disadvantaged individuals can conveniently move to other regions. Furthermore, applications for using special transportation can now be made through metropolitan call centers, websites, and applications.

Yoon Jin-hwan, Director General of Comprehensive Transportation Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "This amendment will greatly enhance the mobility rights of the transportation-disadvantaged," adding, "We will actively promote institutional improvements such as building an integrated reservation system for special transportation, budget support, and awareness improvement education and publicity to foster an inclusive culture for the transportation-disadvantaged."

The full text of the amendment can be found on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport website, and related opinions can be submitted via mail, fax, or the website.

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