The Inje County government in Gangwon Province will eliminate fares for regular rural and village buses starting January 1, 2027. Both residents and tourists will be able to use the service without restrictions based on residency or age, reducing transportation costs for locals and visitors alike.
According to Inje County officials, the free service will apply to rural and village buses operating regular routes, while the Inje City Tour Bus will be excluded. Passengers will still need to tag their transportation cards to confirm ridership and collect usage data, even though no fare will be charged.
The county will compensate transportation providers for the loss of revenue. A cost estimate prepared before the initiative indicates that approximately 396 million won will be needed in 2027. The actual support amount will be determined based on the assessed loss of transportation revenue from bus usage.
The primary beneficiaries of this initiative will be residents who regularly use buses for commuting and school trips. The standard fare for general bus services, as listed on the Inje County bus information system, is 900 won. Based on this fare, an adult using the bus twice a day for 22 days a month could save 39,600 won monthly, or 475,200 won annually. This calculation assumes no existing free support or transfer benefits, and actual savings will vary based on usage frequency and applicable fares.
The policy is also motivated by the county's low population density and the significant distances between villages. For elderly residents and youth without private transportation, buses serve as essential means of travel to hospitals, markets, and schools. Eliminating fare costs will help reduce expenses associated with routine outings, such as medical visits and shopping.
However, improving mobility will require adequate service conditions. The bus schedule released by Inje County shows that rural and village buses operate primarily around regional hubs like Wonjong, Hyunri, and Sinnam, with varying operating hours for different routes. If there are insufficient return trips after medical appointments or shopping, simply eliminating fares may not significantly increase travel opportunities.
Tourists are expected to benefit from reduced additional costs when traveling between various locations. Since there are no residency restrictions, visitors will enjoy the same benefits. If round-trip services connecting tourist sites with town centers are established, it will ease the burden of traveling for meals and shopping. Clear guidance on the locations of stops and return schedules will be necessary.
The county plans to enhance connectivity with the upcoming Chuncheon-Sokcho East-West High-Speed Railway, aiming to attract visitors to local businesses near stations like Inje and Baekdam. If connecting services are scheduled to align with train arrival times, the free bus service could expand the range of activities for train travelers.
The economic impact on the region will depend on whether increased mobility translates into actual consumer spending. If residents who previously delayed outings due to costs begin to travel more, or if tourists visit a wider array of locations, local businesses could benefit. Conversely, if only existing passengers switch modes of transport, additional spending may be limited. Current data does not allow for precise predictions of ridership increases or sales impacts on local businesses.
Data collected after the implementation will serve as a basis for adjusting routes and schedules. To maximize the benefits of the fare-free initiative, it will be essential to analyze demand and congestion by time of day, as well as the inconveniences of transfers. Future tasks will include determining the scale of service increases, connecting routes to railway stations, and addressing the usage patterns of passengers without transportation cards.
Kwon Oh-young, head of Inje County's Safe Transportation Division, stated, “We hope that the fare-free bus service will alleviate the daily transportation costs for residents and enhance the mobility of tourists visiting the area. We will ensure thorough preparations for the implementation starting in January so that everyone can use the buses without inconvenience.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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