곡성군, 2026년 1월 1일부터 군내버스 전면 무료화 시행

In an effort to expand its transportation welfare policies, Gwangju County in South Korea announced on the 19th that it will fully implement free municipal bus services starting from January 1, 2026. To facilitate this, Gwangju County and ㈜Gwangju Transportation signed an agreement on the 18th for the implementation of the free bus service. This initiative covers all municipal bus routes operated by ㈜Gwangju Transportation, allowing any passenger, including county residents and visiting tourists, to use the buses without a transportation card or cash. However, some exceptions apply; passengers using the Damyang-Eup to Okgwangmyeon route who embark or disembark within the Damyang area, and routes operated by other city or county's carriers within Gwangju County will still have to pay the existing fares. Since 2016, Gwangju County has been introducing transportation policies to improve accessibility, such as the 1000-won bus fare policy and operating an 'effect taxi' service for residents in underprivileged transportation areas. The county expects that with this free municipal bus service, the convenience of its residents will be enhanced, leading to an improvement in transportation welfare. Additionally, the increased activation of regional transportation is anticipated to boost the local economy. A county official stated, "With the implementation of the free municipal bus service, the mobility rights of our residents will be strengthened, and the activation of public transportation use will make regional transportation more fluid." They also added, "Tourists will also be able to use the municipal buses without any burden, which is expected to revitalize regional tourism and positively impact the overall local economy."