Busan is good

Free Metropolitan Transfer Fare for Public Transportation in Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan Starting Tomorrow (19th)… Expansion to the Yangsan Metro Line Next Year

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that beginning tomorrow (19th), it will implement free metropolitan transfer fares for public transportation in Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan, and will further expand the scope in the future.

From tomorrow (19th), citizens using buses, metro, and light rail in Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan will be able to make up to two transfers across three modes of transportation free of charge, without paying the additional fee (typically 500 KRW).

Citizens commuting daily for school or work on metropolitan public transportation are expected to save over 20,000 KRW in transportation costs per month.

The city also plans to apply the free metropolitan transfer policy to transfers between the Yangsan Metro Line (Nopo–Yangsan Central), scheduled to open next year (2026), and Busan public transportation (bus, metro).

In addition, Busan intends to expand the metropolitan transfer scope further under its initiative to include Geoje, Changwon (Jinhae Yongwon), and Ulsan.

At the same time, the city is preparing to introduce short-term transportation passes (1-day, 3-day, and 7-day passes) for tourists visiting Busan as part of planned improvements to the transportation card system. Furthermore, Busan is discussing with neighboring municipalities, including Gimhae and Yangsan, the introduction of an integrated pass system covering nearby cities.

This free metropolitan transfer fare policy is expected to serve as the first step toward realizing the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam (BUG) Super Metropolitan Economic Alliance, reducing citizens’ transportation costs and significantly promoting public transportation usage.

As a representative case of a citizen-oriented policy under the BUG Super Metropolitan Economic Alliance, this initiative will provide tangible benefits to residents of Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan, which are classified as a single living zone.

Through this measure, Busan plans to proactively align with the new national policy to establish a 30-minute living zone in the BUG region and to position Busan as a maritime capital.

Currently, metropolitan public transportation between Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan includes light rail as well as approximately 290 buses operating on 38 routes.

Busan was the first among special and metropolitan cities in October 2023 to lead in implementing free fares for children’s public transportation, which was later expanded to neighboring areas such as Gimhae and Yangsan.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “This metropolitan transfer fare exemption is more than just a transportation policy; it represents an important first step symbolizing cooperation and mutual prosperity in the southeastern region, centered on Busan. Going forward, Busan will take the lead in implementing an innovative metropolitan transportation model that transcends administrative boundaries by continually expanding the scope of metropolitan transfers in cooperation with surrounding municipalities, including Changwon, Geoje, and eventually Ulsan.”