Ulju County Launches Full-Scale City Bus Fare Support for Seniors Aged 65-74 and Basic Livelihood Recipients

Ulju County in Ulsan will begin full implementation of its "City Bus Fare Support Program" for senior citizens and basic livelihood security recipients starting September 8.

This initiative expands on Ulsan City's policy of providing free bus rides for those aged 75 and older. It is designed to reduce transportation costs and guarantee mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable groups.

Ulju County is a mixed urban-rural area with a land area 1.2 times larger than that of Seoul, but lacks public transportation infrastructure such as subways. As a result, the county plans to directly subsidize bus fares-the only public transportation option in the area-to create a mixed urban-rural transportation welfare model that delivers benefits similar to metropolitan subway free ride policies.

The county will allocate a total of approximately 800 million won to this project through December 2025, expecting around 32,000 people to benefit. Eligible recipients include Ulju County residents aged 65 to 74 and basic livelihood security recipients aged 13 to 64, excluding foreign nationals.

The support covers all city buses within Ulsan (including regular, express, limousine, branch, village, and Masil buses), but does not apply to routes licensed by other local governments such as Gyeongju, Yangsan, or Busan. The program allows up to 16 rides per month and operates on a "use first, reimburse later" basis. When using a dedicated transportation card, the amount spent each quarter will be reimbursed to the individual's bank account, with the first reimbursement scheduled for December 20. Subsequent reimbursements will be made on March 20, June 20, and September 20 each year.

The dedicated transportation card can be issued at the administrative welfare centers in each town or township of residence. Applicants must bring their ID in person, and for minors, a legal guardian may apply on their behalf. To reduce congestion during the initial application period, the county will implement a weekday system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year during the first week of issuance.

An Ulju County official stated, "Taking into account the area's unique circumstances, where even Masil buses must operate due to limited bus access, we aim to minimize inconvenience for transportation-vulnerable residents and guarantee their practical right to mobility."

Ulju County also offers the largest incentive in the nation-worth 500,000 won-to elderly drivers who voluntarily surrender their driver's licenses, and aims to further enhance both transportation welfare and safety for the elderly through this new bus fare support program.

Ulju County Office

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