Starting this second half of the year, passengers will be able to book KTX and SRT tickets through a single app. Additionally, discounts on highway tolls for disabled individuals and veterans, as well as for families with multiple children, will be expanded.
According to the government’s report titled 'Changes Starting in the Second Half of 2026,' the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will implement a series of measures aimed at reducing transportation costs, improving rail service convenience, streamlining housing and maintenance project procedures, and enhancing facility safety.
To alleviate public transportation costs, the 'K-Pass' refund benefits will be expanded. From April to September, incentives for staggered commuting and half-price K-Pass benefits will be available. Citizens aged 19 and older who use public transportation at least 15 times a month will be eligible, with additional refunds for using transportation during staggered commuting hours.
Rail service convenience will also improve. Starting in August, high-speed rail tickets for KTX and SRT can be searched and booked through a unified app, reducing the inconvenience of having to use separate apps for each service.
The ticket booking period for rail services will be extended. From October, the advance booking window for train tickets will increase from one month to two months before departure, allowing travelers to plan their schedules more comfortably during peak travel times such as holidays and vacations.
Convenience for users of the metropolitan area’s commuter trains will also be enhanced. Passengers who exit and re-enter within 15 minutes on sections operated by Korail will have their base fare waived. This measure aims to reduce the inconvenience of having to pay additional fares when exiting for urgent reasons, such as using a restroom.
The scope of highway toll discounts will also be expanded. Disabled individuals and veterans, or their household members, will be eligible for a 50% discount on tolls for vehicles rented or leased for over a year. Families with two or more children under 19 will receive a 10% discount on tolls during weekends and holidays, while families with three or more children will see the discount increase to 20%.
In the housing and maintenance sector, procedures for the revitalization of aging planned cities will be simplified. Starting in August, the preliminary project implementer system will be expanded to all aging planned cities. Residents in areas like the first-generation new towns will receive support from preliminary project implementers from the initial stages of their revitalization projects. Consent forms with similar objectives will be recognized as a single consent form, reducing the burden of obtaining resident approvals.
The permit process for housing construction projects will also be expedited. New evaluations for educational environment, disaster impact, and fire performance will be included in the integrated review of housing construction plans. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport aims to shorten the permit period and increase the speed of housing supply by consolidating various reviews.
The recognition system for industrialized housing will be improved. Regular checks on performance and maintenance of production facilities will be established after the recognition of industrialized housing, and procedures for extending validity and making changes will be clarified. This aims to support the activation of industrialized housing, such as modular homes, while enhancing quality control.
Safety management for facilities will also be strengthened. The deadline for repairs and reinforcements of facilities designated as high-risk with significant defects or rated D or E will be shortened. The initiation deadline for corrective actions will be reduced from two years to one year, and the completion deadline will be cut from three years to two years.
Regular inspections for large trucks and special vehicles will gradually become mandatory. Large trucks and special vehicles over eight years old will need to undergo annual inspections, with the scope of application gradually expanding starting in December 2026 for vehicles over 13 years old.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's changes in the second half of the year focus on making transportation cost reductions and mobility improvements more tangible for the public. At the same time, the ministry aims to enhance the speed of housing supply and improve safety management for aging facilities and large vehicles.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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