Busan City Bus Fare Increased by 350 Won and Urban Railway Fare Increased by 300 Won

Starting from 4 a.m. on October 6, bus fares in Busan will increase by 350 won to 1,550 won, and subway fares will increase by 150 won to 1,450 won.

Busan City announced on the 18th that the fare increase proposal for city buses and subways was approved at the Busan Price Countermeasure Committee meeting held at 5 p.m.

This is the first bus fare increase in 10 years since November 2013, and the first subway fare increase in 6 years since May 2017.

The city explained that due to the implementation of the transfer discount system, rapidly rising labor costs, aging subway infrastructure, increased long-distance bus routes, and decreased public transportation usage after COVID-19, financial deficits have worsened, making it difficult to sustain without a fare increase.

Busan City Hall.

Initially, Busan City proposed a 400 won increase for adult bus fares, but the committee applied a 350 won increase to 1,550 won considering the economic burden on citizens. For cash payments, the fare increased by 400 won from 1,300 won to 1,700 won.

For teenagers, both transportation card and cash fares remain frozen at 800 won and 900 won respectively, and children's fares are free when using transportation cards and remain at 400 won for cash payments.

Fares for seat buses and late-night buses also increased, with adult transportation card fares set at 2,050 won for seat buses, 1,950 won for regular late-night buses, and 2,450 won for late-night seat buses. Village bus fares will also increase from October 6, matching city bus fares, but each district will decide the increase within a maximum of 350 won.

Regarding subway fares, a total increase of 300 won will be implemented, with a 150 won increase applied on October 6 to 1,450 won. From March next year, an additional 150 won increase will raise the fare to 1,600 won. Like city buses, teenage fares remain frozen and children's fares have been made free.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “Although the fare increase was unavoidable this time, we will minimize household burdens caused by ongoing high inflation by implementing free fares for children and freezing teenage fares.”

He added, “Starting this August, we will reduce the burden on public transportation users and increase public transportation usage in Busan through the nationwide first integrated public transportation discount system, ‘Dongbaek Pass.’”

Bus fares in Busan city (above), Busan Metro fare table.

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