Paju City to Raise Village Bus Fares by 200 Won... Additional Revenue to Improve Bus Services

by Lee jonggu

Published 30 Sep.2025 09:23(KST)

First Fare Adjustment in Six Years Since 2019

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on September 30 that it will raise village bus fares by 200 won starting with the first bus on October 25.

Paju City Hall view. Provided by Paju City

This fare increase, the first in six years since the last adjustment in 2019, was finalized after a review by the Consumer Policy Review Committee.

Although transportation costs such as labor and fuel have risen significantly over the years, Paju City has worked to minimize fare increases by improving the management efficiency of transportation operators and reducing costs in order to stabilize the local economy.

However, as the city’s financial support for village buses has surged from 7.3 billion won in 2021 to 24 billion won in 2025, the fare increase has become unavoidable.

Initially, a 300-won increase was considered at the request of the Gyeonggi Province Village Bus Transportation Association. However, to minimize the burden on citizens, the city decided to set the increase at 200 won, which remains 100 won cheaper than city buses.

Paju City was the first in the country to introduce a quasi-public operation system for village buses, enhancing both public interest and convenience. Even as village bus operations have become challenging nationwide, the city has expanded its fleet from 130 to 217 vehicles and taken the lead in service improvements by introducing eco-friendly and large-capacity buses.

Going forward, the additional revenue from the fare increase will not simply boost income, but will be used to ensure stable operation of village buses and to provide comfortable and convenient service by replacing old buses with eco-friendly and large-capacity models.

Park Hansoo, head of the Bus Policy Division, stated, "This fare adjustment is an unavoidable decision to ensure stable operation of village buses and guarantee transportation convenience for citizens," adding, "We will continue to improve the quality of public transportation services and implement various transportation support policies to minimize the burden on citizens."