Busan Metropolitan City will subsidize operating costs for the freight truck and village bus industries, which have been hit hard by prolonged high fuel prices. The measure aims to preemptively prevent logistics disruptions and public transportation inconveniences. The city announced on Tuesday that it will implement the "High Fuel Price Burden Relief Freight Truck and Village Bus Safe Operation Support Project."
The program will cover approximately 30,000 vehicles in total, including 29,700 diesel-powered commercial freight trucks and 355 village buses, providing up to 300,000 won per vehicle to help cover the costs of three items: engine oil, urea solution, and tires.
The initiative comes amid concerns that the transportation industry's burden from surging fuel prices has reached a critical level. Diesel vehicles account for 91% of freight trucks and 74% of village buses, making the sector highly vulnerable to fuel price volatility. The city has allocated a total of 9 billion won ($6.6 million) through its second supplementary budget.
The subsidy will be provided on a "post-settlement" basis. Vehicle owners must first purchase safe-operation supplies and submit receipts and other supporting documents, after which subsidies will be deposited into their accounts around the 15th of the following month. Eligible purchases are those made after the official announcement on the 13th.
Applications will be accepted both online and in person. Online applications can be submitted through the city's website and QR codes on the official notice, while in-person applications will be processed through the Freight Association on a weekday rotation system based on the last digit of vehicle license plates. The application period runs from the 18th through November 30, with each vehicle eligible to apply only once. Village buses will be supported separately through their cooperative.
The city notes that the measure goes beyond simple cost compensation and is directly tied to safety. By encouraging the replacement of essential consumables such as engine oil and tires, the program aims to enhance accident prevention.
"With the transportation industry facing significant burdens from high fuel prices, we expect this support to provide practical help in ensuring smooth logistics transport and traffic safety," Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-deok said. "We will continue to provide support so that citizens can use public transportation more safely and conveniently."
