Move Conveniently, Live Comfortably! ... Busan City Promotes Welfare Policies in the Transportation Sector

Transportation Welfare Policies Comprise 20 Tasks Across 3 Major Areas

Analysis and Improvement of Various Welfare Policies for Transportation-Disadvantaged Groups

Practical Assistance... Enhancement of Convenience Features and Infrastructur

Busan City announced its major transportation welfare policies for 2024, pledging to enhance citizens' mobility convenience and lead the creation of a more relaxed living environment.

The city plans to focus on completing a "livable Busan" where all citizens can enjoy the convenience and benefits of transportation by promoting 20 tasks centered on three key areas: ▲eliminating policy gaps for transportation-vulnerable groups ▲strengthening convenience in public transportation use ▲creating a smart transportation environment for a 15-minute city.

First, in the area of "eliminating policy gaps for transportation-vulnerable groups," the city will analyze and improve the effects of transportation welfare policies implemented last year, such as Dongbaek Pass, Mama Call, and Duribal operations, to increase transportation opportunities for socially vulnerable groups.

Following the postpaid Dongbaek Pass launched in August last year, the "prepaid Dongbaek Pass" will be implemented from the 18th. This system allows users to charge transportation fees onto a Dongbaek prepaid card and receive Dongbaek Pass refund benefits when usage exceeds 45,000 KRW per month. It is available to any citizen aged 18 or older, including foreigners and low-credit individuals.

The card can be applied for via the Dongbaek Pass app or Busan Bank, and fees can be charged through convenience stores, subway stations, and the Easy Charge app. Notably, the target range will be expanded to include teenagers in the second half of this year.

Policies to guarantee mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities and pregnant women will also be strengthened. The voucher call taxi (Mama Call) support limit for pregnant women was raised from 20,000 KRW per month (4 times per month) to 40,000 KRW per month (unlimited) starting from the 1st.

Additionally, to improve convenience in using the special transportation service for persons with disabilities (Duribal), a fully automated dispatch system will be implemented in March this year. Once stabilized, dispatch times are expected to be reduced from 20 minutes to 15 minutes. The introduction of additional multi-passenger vehicles and nationwide expansion of service areas are also planned for the second half of this year.

Incentives to improve the working conditions of corporate taxi drivers, who face poor working environments, have been expanded since January, and the city is reviewing conditions to implement differentiated incentives for elderly drivers who voluntarily surrender their driver's licenses, aiming for implementation in the second half of this year after supplementary budget allocation.

Next, in the area of "strengthening public transportation convenience," the city will significantly expand convenience features such as replacing urban railway trains and improving public transportation facilities and vehicle interiors and exteriors to promote public transportation use and alleviate traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

By the end of this year, 128 old urban railway cars that have been in use for over 25 years will be replaced in phases to ensure safety and convenience. Along with the parcel delivery service using lockers inside subway stations, which has been in operation since January, the city plans to gradually expand an elevator call system that automatically recognizes transportation-vulnerable users accompanied by wheelchairs or strollers, as well as an automatic safety platform to prevent passenger falls on platforms.

City buses will have their external LED destination displays replaced with ICT-based technology and internal LCD information systems installed to ensure visibility of various transportation information. Vehicles passing through Busan’s gateways such as Gimhae Airport and Busan Station will be equipped with luggage storage spaces in the first half of the year to support citizens’ pleasant travel experiences.

Smart bus information systems are operating at four BRT stops with high passenger concentration (Haeundae Station, Jagalchi Station, Busan Station, Busan City Hall Station), providing ultra-precise bus location information and route-specific stop details.

Additionally, two smart shelter-type bus stops at Seomyeon Station/Lotte Hotel Department Store and Centum City Station/BEXCO bus stops offer convenience features such as heating and cooling, air purification, video information displays, and smartphone chargers. These will be gradually expanded based on positive citizen feedback.

To match Busan’s status as a global hub city, design improvements for the exterior fronts of city buses and taxi roof signs will be applied in phases starting this year, aiming to convey and spread Busan’s unique charm to citizens and tourists.

Finally, in the area of "creating a smart transportation environment for a 15-minute city," Busan will optimize its transportation system using the latest technologies to further enhance urban convenience and quality of life.

To create a seamless mobility environment within the 15-minute city, a tagless system that automatically charges fares without tapping transportation cards during public transportation use will be pilot-operated in the first half of this year. The transfer system linking and utilizing personal mobility devices (PM) with public transportation began pilot operation on the 1st.

Policies for citizens using private cars will also be strengthened. Through pilot operation of "real-time signal information open infrastructure" in the second half of this year, information such as traffic light colors and remaining signal times at upcoming intersections will be linked and displayed on drivers’ mobile navigation apps, expected to help prevent traffic accidents.

The target area for the "emergency vehicle priority signal system," which ensures golden time compliance for patient hospital transfers, will also be expanded in the second half of this year. The system, originally applied from accident sites to base hospitals, will be extended to create a one-stop system from 119 Safety Centers to accident sites and base hospitals, establishing a rapid and safe passage environment to protect citizens’ lives.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “We will do our best to solidly implement this year’s major transportation welfare policies to create convenient mobility and a relaxed living environment that citizens can feel.” He added, “We will continuously pursue policies that help citizens’ lives, further strengthen dense and robust welfare for vulnerable groups, and complete a public transportation-friendly 15-minute city Busan where everyone can live well.”

Overview of Major Welfare Policies in the Transportation Sector.

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