K-Pass Users Surpass 5 Million Mark

K-Pass, the public transport fare refund service from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has surpassed 5 million users in just over a year since its launch. This indicates that K-Pass, which refunds a portion of fares for users who take public transport 15 or more times a month, is gaining significant traction by contributing to easing household financial burdens.

The number of K-Pass users has steadily increased. It surpassed 3 million users by the end of February 2024 and exceeded 4 million by the end of October of the same year. The service has shown growth, with an additional 1 million users signing up for K-Pass in just six months as service availability expanded to more regions.

User numbers have grown rapidly since the introduction of a fixed-amount refund system in January of this year, which fully refunds transportation costs exceeding a base amount. This year, K-Pass users have reduced their transportation expenses by an average of 21,000 won per month, out of an average monthly public transport cost of 63,000 won. This translates to an annual saving of approximately 750,000 won for a three-person household. Young adults received an average monthly refund of 22,000 won, while low-income individuals received an average of 34,000 won. Around 440,000 users benefited from the fixed-amount refund system, receiving an average of 41,000 won per month.

The MTC held a commemorative event to mark the 5 million user milestone. The event was attended by about 100 officials, including Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-sook and MTC Chairman Kim Yong-seok. Twelve 'Modu-ui Card National Advisory Committee' members were appointed during the event. Additionally, memorandums of understanding were signed with seven local governments, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon, for the integration of elderly transportation card benefits. Minister Kim Hyun-sook stated that the choice of 5 million users signifies the urgent need for the policy. He added that he would focus on policies to expand transportation options and improve usability for the benefit of regional users.