Incheon Transit Corporation announced Monday that it has entered a full-fledged "800,000 daily riders era," setting an all-time ridership record since its founding. The milestone resulted from a combination of increased Line 1 ridership following the opening of the Geomdan extension last year, Incheon's population surpassing 3.05 million, and recent rising fuel prices.
According to Incheon Transit Corporation, daily ridership reached 830,000 on March 3, setting the highest single-day figure since the corporation's establishment. As of March 5, daily ridership has exceeded 800,000 on a total of seven days this year.
The first driver behind the ridership surge is the Geomdan extension. Since the extension opened on June 28 last year, it has become firmly established, and Line 1 ridership has grown noticeably. Comparing July figures before and after the opening, average daily ridership on Line 1 rose 6.8% from 268,865 in 2024 to 287,087 last year. Overall ridership across all lines also increased by approximately 20,000 during the same period.
Population growth in Incheon is also cited as a key factor. The city's population rose from approximately 2.99 million in 2023 to over 3.05 million last year. Analysts attribute the ridership increase to growing travel demand as the city expands in size.
Rising fuel prices have further fueled the shift to public transit. Gasoline prices climbed approximately 12% from 1,688.3 won per liter in the third week of February to 1,894.4 won in the first week of April, increasing the burden of private car ownership and pushing more citizens toward the subway.
"Ridership is growing as the Geomdan extension opening, population growth, and changes in the external environment converge," Incheon Transit Corporation President Choi Jeong-gyu said. "We will provide urban rail services that citizens can use conveniently and safely."