“Let’s Temporarily Make Public Transportation Free for Commuters”… Jo Guk Urges Emergency Proposal Ahead of Supplementary Budget

Request to Include Transportation Cost Support in Supplementary Budget for Middle East Crisis Response

Citing Germany's 9-Euro Ticket: Public Transit Usage Up 25 Percent

"Equal Benefits for Both Private Vehicle and Public Transportation User

Jo Kuk, Representative of the Jo Kuk Innovation Party, proposed on the 29th the idea of temporarily making public transportation free during commuting hours.

On this day, Representative Jo stated via social media that, as a response to the economic and energy crisis caused by the Middle East situation, "I propose that a support program for 'temporarily free public transportation during commuting hours' be included in the upcoming supplementary budget."

He noted, "The government is currently mobilizing every available means, such as reducing fuel taxes and implementing price caps, to address the energy crisis." He emphasized, "The government should move away from policies focused solely on private vehicle users. There is a need to significantly expand direct support for the majority of citizens who use public transportation."

Representative Jo cited Germany's example during the Ukraine-Russia war crisis in 2022, when Germany introduced a time-limited, unlimited public transportation pass for 9 euros (about 13,000 won) per month. He said, "In just three months, public transportation usage increased by 25%, and the inflation rate dropped by 0.7 percentage points." He further noted, "There were also complex results, such as a 10% decrease in automobile traffic and a reduction of 1.8 million tons in carbon emissions."

Jo Guk, Representative of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, Yonhap News Agency

He stated, "Korea has the world's top-level transportation infrastructure, including the 'Everyone's Card' and a transfer system." He added, "The upcoming supplementary budget should not be limited to short-term support related to the Middle East conflict, but should also include a long-term plan to introduce a 'Korean version of the 9-euro ticket.'"

He explained, "First and foremost, temporarily free public transportation during commuting hours should substantially reduce transportation costs for citizens and encourage private vehicle users to shift to public transportation." He continued, "This policy would provide equal benefits to both citizens who have always used public transportation and those who are willing to put aside their car keys, and it would help establish a framework for national solidarity to overcome the crisis."

Representative Jo also argued for bold public transportation policies. He said, "Currently, Korea's public transportation policy tends to focus only on encouraging private car users to switch to electric or hydrogen vehicles." He emphasized, "In the long term, we must not only reduce the total mileage driven by internal combustion engine vehicles through bold public transportation policies, but also simultaneously achieve an energy transition and a climate-resilient economy."

In conclusion, he stated, "I hope the upcoming supplementary budget will go beyond responding to the immediate crisis and be filled with bold measures that also protect our future." He added, "The Innovation Party will present these details concretely during the National Assembly discussions."

Meanwhile, the government is preparing a supplementary budget worth 25 trillion won to respond to high oil prices and other consequences of the Middle East situation. The government plans to pass the supplementary budget proposal through a Cabinet meeting on the 31st and then submit it to the National Assembly. The funding for this supplementary budget will be raised entirely from excess tax revenues. According to the government and the Democratic Party of Korea, the key priorities for the supplementary budget are: ① alleviating the public's burden from high oil prices, ② stabilizing the livelihoods of vulnerable groups such as small business owners and young people, and ③ minimizing industrial damage and stabilizing supply chains. The Democratic Party has stated its intention to process the government’s proposal swiftly once submitted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.