South Korea: Free buses expand amid high oil prices

In an era of surging oil prices, South Korea's Jeongseon County is drawing attention for its "free bus" initiative, which offers unlimited rides to all residents. Launched in July 2023, the program aims to alleviate transportation cost burdens, curb oil consumption, and reduce environmental pollution.

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I don't have to worry about transportation costs even if oil prices rise. Isn't this real welfare?

Residents like Jeon Sang-geol, 64, praise the service for eliminating worries about bus fares, which previously amounted to over 6,000 won for a round trip to the county office. "Now I can go to the market or visit the hospital without worrying about the cost," he said. Jeon Myeong-hoon, a local merchant, noted a visible increase in visitors to the Jeongseon Arirang Market, attributing it partly to the free bus service that makes it easier for both residents and tourists to travel within the county.

Jeongseon County transitioned to a public bus system in 2020, initially offering free rides only to vulnerable groups. However, the county decided to expand the service to all residents after realizing the high resident satisfaction outweighed the additional cost. The expansion required an extra 1.1 billion won annually, a modest increase representing just 0.16% of the county's total budget. This move also led to an overhaul of inefficient routes, resulting in an increase in bus routes from 57 to 76 and an expansion of the bus fleet from 22 to 37 vehicles.

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Visitors are noticeably increasing, not just from other towns but also tourists. Tourists who come to Jeongseon by train also visit various parts of the region by bus, as they don't have to worry about fares. It's a great help to vitalizing the local economy.

Kim Seung-yeon, an official at the Jeongseon County Transportation Management Office, described the free bus system as a foundation for transportation welfare in high-oil-price times, providing stable mobility regardless of fuel costs. The initiative has also stimulated the local economy through increased tourism. The free bus service is not unique to Jeongseon; as of July last year, 15 other local governments, including Cheongsong and Bonghwa in North Gyeongsang Province, were operating similar programs.

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It is a foundation for transportation welfare prepared for the era of high oil prices, providing stable transportation regardless of the rise in fuel costs.

Experts suggest that free bus services are sustainable, with an average annual cost of 730 million won across the 15 implementing regions, representing about 0.2% of their budgets. The Green Transition Institute estimates that 63 local governments with high fiscal autonomy and aging populations could afford to implement full free bus services. The expansion of free bus services is also anticipated in the upcoming local elections, with several candidates pledging to introduce or expand such programs.

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Free buses are not only a welfare policy that guarantees the mobility rights of the transportation vulnerable but also have important meaning in terms of climate justice. Expanding free buses can be an effective means to reduce regional emissions by suppressing dependence on private cars.