Gyeonggi Province has decided not to raise tolls on three privately funded roads managed by the province so as to ease the burden on low-income households. This follows a comparable freeze on bus fares.

On March 31, Gyeonggi Province announced that it would freeze the tolls on three private roads managed by the province – including Ilsandaegyo Bridge, the 3rd Gyeongin Expressway, and the Seosuwon-Uiwang Expressway – for a second consecutive year. This is the second public price freeze after the bus fare freeze in February.

Gyeonggi made the decision to freeze tolls based on the judgment that the burden on low-income households, which has been exacerbated by rapid inflation, should be alleviated.

According to the concession agreement concluded between Gyeonggi Province and private business operators, the province must adjust the tolls on the three privately funded roads for which it the competent authority every year so as to reflect changes in the consumer price index.

Of particular note, since last year, as reasons for increasing tolls due to rapid inflation have emerged, private business operators have presented the “2023 Toll Adjustment Report” to Gyeonggi with details calling for a toll increase of KRW 100 to 400 for all vehicle types.

However, on March 7, Gyeonggi Province submitted a proposal to the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly to hear opinions on the freezing of tolls, taking into consideration the increased burden on low-income households. The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly sympathized with the purpose of the policy, but presented the opinion that “a careful review is needed considering the financial conditions of Gyeonggi Province and the economic circumstances of ordinary people.”

In response, Gyeonggi Province minimized the increase in tolls by refunding usage fees for the expressway between Seosuwon and Uiwang, the first such refund of its kind in Korea. The province explained that it would continue to review various measures to reduce the financial burden and curb toll increases.

Due to the toll freeze, Gyeonggi Province will not issue a separate notice. From April 1, the three privately funded road operators plan to notify users of this freeze through electronic display boards.

Go Tae-ho, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Road Policy Division, said, “The freezing of tolls on three privately-invested roads, including the Ilsan Bridge, was a difficult decision considering the hardships of the poor economy, which has been exacerbated by the economic recession. After next year, we plan to review whether or not to increase tolls after comprehensively considering the financial and economic conditions of Gyeonggi Province.”