Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Incheon ferry passengers will pay more from January
Incheon plans to stop covering ferry fuel surcharges and terminal fees for its residents from January.
The regular one-way fare will stay at 1,500 won, but passengers will pay those extra charges themselves.
On the Incheon-to-Baengnyeong route, the total will rise from 1,500 won to 15,600 won, a more than tenfold increase.
The city introduced its I-Bada Pass policy last year to make island trips affordable and encourage tourism and local business.
It says higher passenger numbers and broader support have increased pressure on its budget, while island residents have raised concerns about the effects of tourism on their living conditions.
The city estimates the change will save about 2.5 billion won a year.
Visitors from other regions will receive a smaller fare subsidy, cut from 70% to 50%, and the city says it will ask the central government for more funding to support island residents’ fares.
Incheon plans to make ferry passengers pay fuel surcharges and terminal fees from January 2027, raising some residents’ costs by up to ten times.
The regular one-way fare for Incheon residents will remain 1,500 won.
For the Incheon–Baengnyeong route, the total fare will rise from 1,500 won to 15,600 won.
Incheon said increased use and a wider range of people receiving support have added pressure to the city budget.
The city estimates the change will save about 2.5 billion won a year.
- Who
- Incheon residents using coastal ferries, and residents from other regions receiving fare support.
- What
- Incheon plans to end support for residents’ fuel surcharges and terminal fees. Support for regular fares for people from other regions will be reduced.
- When
- From January 2027.
- Where
- Incheon’s coastal ferry routes, including services to Baengnyeong, Yeonpyeong, Deokjeok and Ijak islands.
- Why
- The city said rising ferry use and an expansion of the support program have increased its financial burden, and cited concerns about living conditions for island residents.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Incheon introduced the I-Bada Pass policy, reducing residents’ coastal ferry fares to 1,500 won.
The city halted its regular-fare support for people from other regions, citing exhaustion of that year’s budget.
Incheon announced plans to make residents pay fuel surcharges and terminal fees from January.
The planned change is due to take effect, while support for regular fares for people from other regions will fall from 70% to 50%.
- Residents’ regular one-way fare
- 1,500 won
- Incheon–Baengnyeong total fare from January
- 15,600 won
- Estimated annual city budget saving
- About 2.5 billion won
- Support for fares for people from other regions
- Reduced from 70% to 50%
1 source
What people are saying
If passengers pay the ferry fuel surcharges and terminal fees themselves, we estimate that about 2.5 billion won in city budget funds will be saved annually.