Operational restructuring aims to reduce commission burden on stores

Yeoju, Daecheon, Gunwi, Jangyu among 8 rest stops targeted

The Korea Expressway Corporation headquarters. [Korea Expressway Corporation]
The Korea Expressway Corporation headquarters. [Korea Expressway Corporation]

Korea Expressway Corporation is moving to overhaul the operational structure of highway rest stops, aiming to curb food price increases and significantly improve service quality.

The corporation said Monday it is preparing a detailed implementation plan in line with the government's highway rest stop reform initiative, responding to criticism that prices and services at expressway rest stops have not met public expectations.

As a proactive measure, the corporation will pilot a direct-contract model at eight rest stops nationwide. The four currently in operation are Yeoju (toward Incheon), Daecheon (both directions), Gunwi (toward Busan) and Jangyu (toward Busan). The remaining four — including Hapcheonho (both directions) and Wolchulsan (integrated) — are newly planned facilities.

The corporation is currently drawing up detailed bidding plans for the direct-contract conversion and said it will actively collect complaints and requests from users throughout the process to continue driving service improvements.

Under the direct-contract model, the existing multi-tier lease structure would be simplified, substantially reducing the commission rates borne by tenant stores. The corporation expects this to translate into meaningfully lower prices for signature rest stop food items.

"When the operational structure shifts to a public direct-contract model, the commission burden on tenant stores will decrease, and we expect food prices to come down as a result," a Korea Expressway Corporation official said. "We will continue working to deliver rest stop service improvements that people can actually feel."

Meanwhile, Korea Expressway Corporation has unveiled a new corporate vision — "a global No. 1 mobility platform that realizes the value of movement for all" — reflecting its commitment to responding to recent government policy changes and leading the way in the era of future mobility.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com