The city of Incheon announced on December 26th that starting January 1st of the following year, it will fully implement the “cashless Incheon bus” system. This initiative aims to enhance public convenience and operational efficiency by promoting the use of transportation cards instead of cash. The decision follows the positive results from three phases of expanded pilot operations, which showed a significant decline in cash fare usage—from 1.68% in 2022 to 0.086% last year.
By adopting the cashless system, the city expects to reduce costs associated with cash fare collection, minimize the risk of accidents and delays during cash transactions, and lessen the workload for transportation staff involved in managing fare boxes.
For passengers without a transportation card, alternatives are available. They can purchase a card on the bus or pay via bank transfer using a payment guide. Additionally, a mobile transportation card issuance service will be offered, allowing passengers to use their smartphones for easy access.
The cashless system will be implemented on 194 city bus routes operating under the semi-public system. Routes in regions like Ganghwa and Ongjin, which have inadequate alternative transportation options and a higher cash usage rate among seniors, will be considered for future implementation following customer usage monitoring.
A city official stated that despite the continuous decrease in cash usage through pilot operations, they are preparing to minimize possible confusion with the full implementation. This includes enhancing prior public awareness efforts and providing thorough training for transportation staff to handle any issues.