Jeju Island Implements Full Free Public Transportation Policy for Youth

Jeju has commenced a full free public transport service for over 42,000 youth aged 13 to 18 starting from the 13th.

This policy is the first of its kind in the nation, aimed at supporting the overall daily mobility of youth. It allows them to use public transportation without restrictions on purposes, whether for school, tutoring, cultural activities, or hanging out with friends.

Youth can utilize the Jeju Transportation Welfare Card to access city buses, express buses, and limousine buses for free. Notably, this benefit extends not only to middle and high school students but also to youths outside the school system, making it significant from the perspective of educational equity.

The youth transportation welfare card is equipped with Jeju's payment system, Onnara Pay, enabling simple QR code payments. Onnara Pay is the only platform among national metropolitan municipalities to implement the MPM QR payment method for bus fares along with an open transportation payment system.

Ensuring Transportation Rights and Expanding Educational Opportunities

On the 13th, a ceremony to launch the free public transportation service for youth was held at Samda Park in Jeju City. Attendees included Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, Jeju Provincial Council Chairman Lee Sang-bong, Education Superintendent Kim Kwang-soo, and more than 100 youths.

Second-year student Yang Jin-seong from Jeju National University Affiliated School expressed, "The burden of transportation costs was a realistic constraint when I had to travel between various places for academic and career preparation. Now I have gained the foundation to move more freely and accumulate wider experiences."

Governor Oh Young-hoon assessed the policy as "a meaningful initiative that effectively adjusts and operates budgets through cooperation between the province and the education office to solve problems."

Education Superintendent Kim Kwang-soo also emphasized, "This is not just a matter of transportation convenience but a turning point for educational welfare and the practice of ensuring equal opportunities."

Image source: Launch ceremony of free public transportation for youth. / Provided by Jeju Province.