High school student Jin-sung used to spend much of his allowance traveling between school, the library, and academies. Now, thanks to Jeju Island’s new free bus policy for teenagers, he says getting around feels easier and less stressful.
Jeju began offering free rides for teens in August, expanding a program that already covered seniors and children. More than a third of residents now travel without paying fares, a major step in public transport welfare.
With no subway, highway, or regular train service, Jeju depends heavily on buses. The island also has Korea’s highest car ownership rate and one of the highest traffic accident rates. To address this issue, the local government invested in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, dubbed a “subway on the road,” where buses run in exclusive lanes and get priority at traffic lights.
The system features central platforms, double-door buses, waiting rooms with air conditioning, charging stations, and safety cameras. With its implementation, studies show bus speeds improved by more than 40% on the busiest routes.
Officials say the program gives teens freedom, keeps seniors active, and promotes greener, safer travel ? a model experts say could inspire national public transport reform.