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| Commuters pass the turnstiles at Seoul City Hall Station on Lines 1 and 2, Dec. 1. Yonhap |
Subway fares in Seoul to increase to 1,550 won
By Lee Hyo-jin
The Seoul Metropolitan Government's proposed subway fare hike is drawing complaints from members of the public who feel that the authorities should revise the free travel system for the elderly so as to tackle the subway operator's financial losses, instead of adding the burden on younger commuters.
According to Seoul city, subway fares are set to rise from as early as April by 300 won (24 cents) to 1,550 won from the current 1,250 won, due to snowballing deficits mainly caused by the nationwide welfare policy, which offers free travel to senior citizens aged 65 and above. Bus fares are also likely to rise by 300 won from the current 1,200 won.
It is the first public transit fare hike in Seoul in eight years since it was raised by 200 won in 2015. The capital city's decision is likely to be followed by other local governments.
The authorities explained that the fare hike is inevitable due to the central government's continuous refusal to make budgetary allocations for its public service obligation (PSO) compensation, which would help the city government make up for the deficit caused by the free travel subway policy for seniors.
According to Seoul Metro, the operating losses incurred by the free travel policy amounted to 350 billion won in 2015, and gradually increased to reach over 370 billion in 2019, accounting for 70 percent of the total losses.
A 30-year-old office worker surnamed Lee who commutes from Incheon to Seoul's Seongdong District said once the fare is raised, he would have to spend nearly 100,000 won on public transit every month.
"The fare hike comes as a big burden since prices on pretty much everything ― groceries, rent and electricity ― are rising, unlike my salary," he said. "But what's more frustrating is that the government seems to be doing nothing to cover the deficit by setting limits on free travel for the elderly."
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| People wait for a train on a subway platform in Seoul Station, Nov. 28, 2022. Yonhap |
It is not the first time controversy over free subway rides has emerged, but politicians have been reluctant to tackle the issue for fear of losing votes among the elderly.
Critics urge that the central and local governments should immediately cooperate to revise the welfare program, as deficits caused by free senior travel will only increase in the future. As of 2021, around 16 percent of Seoul residents are aged 65 and above, and this share is expected to increase to 37 percent by 2047.
According to a 2021 report by the Seoul Institute, Korea was among only a few countries offering unlimited free public transportation to senior citizens, whereas many other countries offer limited services.
In France and Canada, low-income seniors are eligible for a reduced-cost public transit pass, while elderly persons in the United Kingdom are offered free subway travel during off-peak times. As for Japan, the minimum age for free travel is set at 70 and they are able to buy a discounted pass based on their income level.
The report urged that Korea should also run the welfare policy in a flexible manner by raising the minimum wage or setting specific times for seniors to travel for free. It also demanded that the central government should support the subway operators in covering the deficits resulting from the free travel policy.
