"Will Transportation Costs Be Halved?"... Up to 44,000 Won Reimbursement for 70,000 Won Spent

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: "Half-Price Modoo Card Eases Transportation Cost Burden"

The amount of reimbursement provided by the Modu Card, which refunds public transportation expenses above a certain threshold, has nearly doubled compared to previous levels.

According to the Metropolitan Transport Commission under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as of April, the average reimbursement per Modu Card user was approximately 44,000 won, accounting for about 62% of the average monthly transportation expenditure of 70,000 won. This represents an increase of about 20,000 won (91%) compared to the average reimbursement before April.

In response to high fuel prices, the government allocated an additional budget and, starting in April, halved the minimum spending required for reimbursement and raised the reimbursement rate by 30 percentage points for users who commute within one hour before or after peak hours. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport explained that the number of eligible recipients also increased by about 300,000, or roughly 10%, allowing more citizens to benefit from transportation cost reimbursements.

Citizens are participating in quizzes and games at the Modu Card (subscription-based K-Pass) promotional booth set up in the Seoul Station concourse. Photo by Yonhap News

The number of new Modu Card subscribers has been rapidly increasing—from a monthly average of 134,000 last year to 217,000 this year. The number surpassed 5 million in April this year. The increase has been especially notable among seniors and users in regional areas who are eligible for greater benefits.

Following the supplementary budget, the Ministry announced that card users must update their card information by July 7. This can be done through the official website or the application. Kim Yongseok, Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Commission, stated, "We will continue to improve user convenience and expand support so that citizens can truly feel the impact of these policies."

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