(C) Gyeonggi Province

GOYANG/INCHEON — A long-standing tug-of-war over the toll fees of Ilsan Bridge, the only paid crossing over the Han River, has entered a new phase of regional friction. While Gyeonggi Province and its northern municipalities are accelerating plans for a "complete toll-free" experience, neighboring Incheon Metropolitan City remains cautious, raising concerns that its residents might be excluded from future benefits.

A Half-Price Milestone
As of January 1, 2026, Gyeonggi Province officially slashed toll fees for Ilsan Bridge by 50%. Standard passenger cars, which previously paid 1,200 KRW, now pay 600 KRW. This move, funded by a 20-billion-won provincial budget, currently applies to all motorists regardless of their residency.

The bridge, a 1.8km privately funded link between Gimpo and Goyang, has been a focal point of public outcry for years. Critics argue the tolls are excessively high—over ten times more expensive per kilometer than national expressways—placing an unfair burden on residents of Gimpo, Goyang, and Paju.

The Roadmap to Zero Tolls
Gyeonggi Province’s ultimate goal is a 100% toll-free system. To achieve this, the province is seeking national government funding and financial cooperation from the three most affected cities: Gimpo, Goyang, and Paju.

Gimpo City has already taken a proactive step, securing 750 million KRW for the first quarter of 2026. The city plans to establish a tracking system by the first half of the year to reimburse the remaining 50% of toll costs for its residents during commuting hours. Paju is also in active negotiations with Gyeonggi Province to follow suit.

The "Incheon Dilemma"
However, this localized funding model creates a potential "benefit gap." If the final 50% of the toll is covered only by participating municipalities, Incheon residents—particularly those in the Geomdan and Bullo-daegok districts who share the same living zone—could be the only ones still paying.

Data suggests that while Gimpo (42%), Goyang (23%), and Paju (15%) make up the bulk of traffic, motorists from Incheon and Seoul account for roughly 20%. Experts estimate Incheon’s share alone is between 10% and 15%. This figure is expected to rise significantly once the Incheon section of State-Funded Local Road No. 98 opens in December 2027.

Legal and Financial Hurdles
Incheon Metropolitan City has expressed reservations about contributing funds. "There is no legal basis for us to provide financial support to an infrastructure project located in a different administrative jurisdiction," stated an official from Incheon’s Road Department. The city also cited concerns over equity, noting that it already manages its own toll issues with the Incheon and Yeongjong Bridges.

Incheon residents, however, are ramping up pressure on local politicians. "This isn't about subsidizing Gyeonggi Province; it's about Incheon City supporting its own citizens who are forced to use this bridge due to geographical proximity," said Ahn Dong-hyuk, Secretary General of the Bullo-Daegok Residents Association.

The Path Forward
The dispute mirrors the 2021 legal battle when Gyeonggi Province attempted to revoke the private operator’s right to collect tolls, a move that was eventually blocked by the courts. Now, by using a budget-sharing model rather than legal force, Gyeonggi hopes to bypass previous hurdles. Whether Incheon will eventually join the coalition or leave its northern residents to foot the bill remains the critical question for 2026.