The article discusses the issue of high cancellation rates and check-in no-shows for express buses in Korea, which has led to difficulties in securing tickets for passengers who genuinely need them. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport plans to revise the cancellation fee policy, effective from May, to address this issue.
Currently, cancellation fees for express buses are capped at 10% before departure and 30% after departure, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a holiday. This low fee structure has led to frequent last-minute cancellations, especially on busy days, resulting in no-show problems. For comparison, the railway system charges up to 20% before departure and up to 70% after departure.
The article highlights that the current no-show issue affects older passengers who are less adept at using mobile platforms to quickly secure canceled tickets. Additionally, some passengers have been exploiting a loophole by booking two seats and canceling one right after departure, effectively using two seats for a minimal extra cost.
To mitigate these issues, the Ministry has decided to differentiate cancellation fees based on the day: maintaining the current structure for weekdays, but imposing higher fees on weekends, holidays, and during major holiday periods like Chuseok and Lunar New Year. Additionally, the maximum fee imposition time before departure will be adjusted to be in line with the railway system, and post-departure fees will gradually increase from the current 30% to 50%, eventually reaching 70% by 2027.
The Ministry will also recommend local governments, who hold the licenses for intercity buses, to adopt similar fee structures for those services. This change aims to improve the convenience of securing tickets and enhance the overall transport efficiency of express buses.