Gyeonggi Province to Make Ilsan Bridge Toll-Free Starting Next Year

Gyeonggi Province is planning to make tolls on the Ilsan Bridge free of charge starting January 1 next year.

On October 2, Gyeonggi Province announced that Governor Kim Dong-yeon had proposed a plan to eliminate toll fees on the Ilsan Bridge during an emergency meeting with Democratic Party lawmakers Park Jung, Han Junho, Kim Jooyoung, Park Sanghyuk, Kim Younghwan, and Lee Giheon, who represent the districts of Goyang, Paju, and Gimpo. The lawmakers reportedly agreed to the proposal without hesitation.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province explained that, starting January 1 next year, it will proactively pay 50% of the toll fees on behalf of its residents to the National Pension Service, which owns the Ilsan Bridge.

The remaining 50% will be covered by local governments-Gimpo, Goyang, and Paju-as well as the central government.

Ilsan Bridge is the only toll bridge crossing the Han River, excluding expressways. Gyeonggi Province has been pursuing toll-free passage for the bridge, but lost a Supreme Court case in 2024.

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province (center), is taking a commemorative photo after holding a meeting regarding toll fees on the Ilsan Bridge with members of the National Assembly from Gimpo, Goyang, and Paju on the 2nd. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Since then, Gyeonggi Province has continued close negotiations with the National Pension Service, considering options such as acquiring the bridge to reduce the financial burden on residents. However, the province determined that securing the substantial funds-estimated at over 500 billion won-needed to purchase the bridge would be difficult, and decided to focus on providing financial support for the toll fees instead.

Gyeonggi Province estimates that supporting 50% of the Ilsan Bridge toll fees will require an annual budget of 15 to 20 billion won.

The province also noted that, despite Ilsan Bridge being a national support local road, it received no national funding during its construction. Gyeonggi Province therefore expects that national funding may be possible for this toll-free initiative.

The attending Democratic Party lawmakers expressed strong support for Gyeonggi Province's proactive declaration to provide financial support for 50% of the toll fees. They also pledged to actively communicate with the government as local representatives to secure national funding for the initiative.

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