The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that a revised enforcement decree of the Paid Road Act, which includes the creation of a toll discount system for multi-child households and the expansion of eligible vehicles for toll exemptions for people with disabilities and persons of national merit, was passed at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st.

• Key Points of Multi-Child Toll Discount
• Implementation date: Benefits for households with three or more children begin on July 28, and for households with two children on August 22.
• Discount rate: Households with three or more minor children receive a 20% discount on tolls, while those with two children receive a 10% discount.
• Eligible sections: The discount applies only to highway sections managed and operated by Korea Expressway Corporation on weekends and public holidays.
• Excluded sections: The discount does not apply uniformly to all highways. Benefits may be limited when using private investment highways or sections connected to them.
• Operating period: The system will operate temporarily for three years from July 28, 2026, to August 21, 2029.
• Reason for delay for two-child households: The discount start date is later than that for households with three or more children, taking into account the period needed for server expansion and system development.

• Application Schedule and Usage Method
• Households with three or more children: Applications can be submitted starting July 22 via the Korea Expressway Corporation toll website, mobile application, or highway business offices.
• Households with two children: Applications open on August 10.
• Hi-Pass required: To receive the discount, a registered Hi-Pass card must be inserted into the vehicle's onboard unit, and the vehicle must pass through a Hi-Pass lane.
• Passenger verification: When exiting the highway, the location information of a pre-registered mobile phone number is checked to verify that at least one parent is in the vehicle.
• Payment and refund: Prepaid Hi-Pass card users pay the full toll first and then receive the discounted amount refunded to the account registered at the time of application. Postpaid Hi-Pass card users are billed the toll with the discount already applied.

• Expansion of Toll Exemption Eligibility for Persons with Disabilities and Persons of National Merit
• Previous criteria: Exemptions were primarily applied to non-commercial vehicles owned by the individual or a member of the same household.
• Expanded scope: Going forward, rented and leased vehicles held for one year or more will also be eligible for exemptions. The exemption rate remains the same as before.
• Full exemption: Independence activists, Grades 1–5 persons of national merit, and Grades 1–5 injured parties of the May 18 Democratization Movement receive a full toll exemption.
• 50% exemption: Persons with disabilities and other persons of merit may receive a 50% toll exemption.
• Application location: Persons with disabilities seeking an exemption for leased or rented vehicles must visit the community service center in charge of their registered address. Persons of national merit can apply at their regional Veterans Affairs office.
• Required documents: Applicants must prepare an ID, vehicle registration certificate, and facility lease agreement or rental agreement.
• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects that this system reform will lower transportation costs for multi-child households and allow persons with disabilities and persons of national merit who do not own vehicles to benefit from toll exemptions. However, since the multi-child discount has different implementation and application dates depending on the number of children, and private investment highways are excluded from the discount, it is advisable to check the applicable sections and registration status before use.
• [This article was written with AI assistance. Toll discount eligibility, application methods, and implementation schedules may change depending on the system development and operational policies of the relevant agencies, so please verify the latest information on the Korea Expressway Corporation toll website or with the responsible agency before applying.]