SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - South Korea saw a record number of railway passengers last year, as more people used high-speed trains not only for travel but also for daily commutes, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Wednesday.
The total number of railway passengers reached 172.22 million as of the end of las year, up 0.6 percent from the previous year and the highest on record. Among them, passengers on high-speed bullet trains KTX and SRT totaled 93 million and 26 million, averaging 254,000 and 71,000 per day, respectively.
The ministry said the increase is partly due to a new railway line connecting Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province and Wonju in Gangwon Province and other southern areas, which opened in December 2024, carrying about 2.75 million passengers so far.
Passengers on conventional slower trains with frequent stops fell 3.6 percent from a year earlier to 53 million, indicating a shift toward high-speed trains.
By destination, trains to the southern port city of Busan carried the most passengers, totaling 83.60 million. Of these, 61.40 million traveled on high-speed trains and 20.22 million on conventional trains.
Seoul Station in the capital was the busiest, with 43.90 million passengers, followed by Busan (26.10 million), Dongdaegu (20.50 million), Daejeon (19.60 million) and Yongsan (15.10 million).
To meet growing demand, the ministry expanded discount programs for the elderly, people with disabilities, families with multiple children, and pregnant women. It also installed around 300 new ticketing machines, offering various services including remote consultations and other assistance.
Some 385,000 families with multiple children and 699,000 pregnant women benefited from substantial discounts for their fares.
The ministry also said it will come up with tour programs aimed at revitalizing local tourism in areas facing population decline by attracting visitors.
Kim Tae-byeong from the ministry said, "We will ensure the safety of passengers while continuing to improve services."
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