Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, South Jeolla-Gwangju, Hana Bank and Korea Transportation Safety Authority sign MOU Monday
South Jeolla-Gwangju's senior transit card is getting an upgrade. The card currently provides free urban rail rides. Starting Dec. 7, it will be linked with the Modui Card, allowing holders to use a single card for city buses and urban rail in other regions — and to receive refunds and cashback benefits.
The Metropolitan Area Transportation Commission under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Monday afternoon that it had signed an MOU with South Jeolla-Gwangju, Hana Bank and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to link the Modui Card with the senior transit card.
The integration will connect the free urban rail card — used by about 20,000 residents aged 65 and older — with the Modui Card. Currently, the two cards operate separately, meaning seniors who want both sets of benefits must carry two cards.
Under the agreement, Hana Card will launch a combined debit card — the "South Jeolla-Gwangju Senior Transit Modui Card" — on Dec. 7.
With a single card, holders can ride Gwangju's urban rail for free and also use city buses and urban rail in other regions. They will also be eligible for Modui Card refund benefits — a 30 percent flat-rate refund or a fixed-amount refund on spending above 40,000 to 75,000 won ($55).
In addition, Hana Card offers supplementary perks including 10 percent cashback on bus and subway use, up to 6,000 won per month.
To use the card, seniors must obtain it at a Hana Bank branch in the South Jeolla-Gwangju area and then register as a member and register the card through the Modui Card website or app. Hana Bank, community welfare centers and the Gwangju Transportation Corporation will provide guidance on how to use the card.
In April, the commission agreed with seven cities and provinces — including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gyeonggi Province and South Jeolla-Gwangju — to link their senior transit welfare cards with the Modui Card. South Jeolla-Gwangju is the first to formalize the agreement.
The commission said Modui Card users surpassed 7 million in October and that it is working to expand usage further, including by continuing to operate staggered-commute incentives aimed at easing rush-hour congestion.
Commission Chairman Kim Yong-seok said the agency was able to move quickly by working with South Jeolla-Gwangju and multiple partner organizations. "We will continue to improve not only the benefits of the Modui Card but also user convenience, working to reduce inconveniences along the way," he said.
South Jeolla-Gwangju Vice Mayor for Administrative and Cultural Affairs Hwang Gi-yeon called the integration "a meaningful example of central government, local government and the private sector collaborating to resolve inconveniences for residents." Hwang added that the city would actively support seniors in obtaining the new card with ease.
smh@heraldcorp.com
