How Free Public Transport and Expanded Childcare Benefits Will Transform Changwon in 2026

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Kang Gi-yun, the People Power Party’s candidate for mayor of Changwon, unveiled a package of everyday-focused pledges on transportation and childcare.

Kang said he will strengthen residents’ mobility by phasing in free city bus fares.

He presented a roadmap that would first make rides free for elementary, middle and high school students, then expand the program citywide depending on fiscal conditions.

He said the plan aims to remove barriers between districts and to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

He said he would fund the initiative by improving the efficiency of the quasi-public transit system and by coordinating support from the national government. He plans to implement it in stages through ordinance changes and system updates.

On childcare, he proposed expanding eligibility for the grandparent caregiving allowance to cover children up to 48 months old. The proposal would widen the current support window from 24–35 months to 24–48 months and extend the benefit period from one year to two.

The city would allocate roughly 1.3 billion KRW annually (about $975,000) to reduce care gaps for dual-income families, Kang said. He added that any additional funds would be secured by restructuring festival-related and other discretionary expenses.

“Mobility and childcare are fundamental to citizens’ lives,” Kang said. “I will make Changwon a city where it’s easy to raise children and where residents can move freely.”