Paju City Expands "1,000 Won Taxi" to 66 Villages... "Eliminating Transportation Blind Spots"

Paju City Operates 230 Routes for the 1,000 Won Taxi
Expanding the Symbolic '1,000 Won Taxi' for Transportation Welfare
Benefits Now Extended to Urban Neighborhoods

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province has been steadily expanding its "1,000 Won Taxi" project since its pilot operation in 2019. The initiative, designed to guarantee mobility rights for residents in areas with insufficient public transportation, has become a flagship policy for transportation welfare. On April 10, the city announced plans to further advance the program in 2026 by expanding to additional villages, increasing the number of routes, and addressing blind spots in the transportation network.

Paju City Hall view. Provided by Paju City

The "1,000 Won Taxi" project began its pilot operation in April 2019, serving 14 villages. It enables residents in areas where buses are unavailable or have long intervals between services to travel to key destinations for just 1,000 won. The program received strong positive feedback from residents from the outset, leading to continuous calls for expansion.

Three New Villages Designated... 18 Additional Routes Expanded

In 2026, the number of villages served will increase from 63 to 66, with the addition of Josan-ri in Gunnam-myeon, Songchon-dong, and Hajiseok-dong. To improve convenience, the city has also added essential destinations such as administrative welfare centers, which were frequently requested by residents. As of April 1, a total of 230 routes are now in operation.

This expansion goes beyond simply increasing routes—it aims to strengthen practical transportation welfare tailored to residents' daily routines. In particular, the city plans to enhance accessibility to key hubs closely tied to everyday life, such as administrative welfare centers and traditional markets, to improve mobility for seniors and those with limited transportation options.

This year, the service coverage has been expanded beyond towns and townships to include certain villages in Gyoha-dong. Although Gyoha-dong is classified as a "dong" (urban neighborhood) administratively, its residents in the newly included areas face poor transportation conditions. This expansion to support these residents is considered a significant achievement.

In addition, the 1,000 Won Taxi project has improved by flexibly adjusting departure and arrival points in response to user demand surveys. The selection and operation of participating villages are managed by the 1,000 Won Taxi Operations Committee, allowing the program to enhance access to key community hubs and improve residents' satisfaction.

Pursuing Ordinance Amendments... Laying the Institutional Foundation to Eliminate Service Blind Spots

The city plans to revise the relevant ordinance and improve its system to allow some villages—currently ineligible under existing requirements but still in need of the service due to insufficient public transportation—to benefit from the 1,000 Won Taxi project. Through these changes, Paju City aims to rationally adjust the selection criteria for service areas and gradually eliminate blind spots in coverage.

A Paju City official stated, "The 1,000 Won Taxi is a symbolic project of Paju's transportation welfare policy and has continued to grow with strong support from citizens. Just as the service is well-received by users, there are many requests from villages that have not yet been included. Through institutional improvements and by gathering citizen feedback, we will continue to expand the program step by step so that more residents can enjoy equal mobility rights, while also enhancing the quality of operations."

Residents registered in villages selected as service areas can apply at their local administrative welfare center. After registering, they can request a ride through Paju Brand Call using their registered mobile phone number. For just 1,000 won per ride, they can travel from their village's designated departure point to a key hub with convenient public transportation access. Each user can take up to two rides per day, with Paju City covering all fares in excess of 1,000 won.

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