▲ Jeju inner-city bus fares will rise by an average of 14.7 percent. Photo courtesy Jeju Sori

Jeju inner-city bus fares will rise by an average of 14.7 percent for the first time in seven years on Aug. 1, 2014. The standard fare will go from 1,000 won to 1,200 won, up 20 percent, while youth fares rise to 950 won from 850 won, up 11.7 percent. Transportation cards users, such as T-money, will get a 50 won discount.

The Jeju Bus Services Union called for a 32.5 percent hike in September last year after it was shown that other provinces had increased fares every two to three years while Jeju had kept fares fixed since 2007. The union also cited oil and personnel cost increases.

However, a price-setting board for Jeju province settled on the 14.7 percent increase on April 25 due to concerns over keeping buses affordable for low-income groups and the elderly.

To appease any public opposition to the rise, the union announced that services will improve passenger satisfaction and buses in the 700s and 900s will be increased with improvements to other routes.