"Already Tough Enough" ... Will Seoul Subway and Bus Fares Increase?

Discussion on 200~300 Won Increase ... Uncertain Passage Through Public Hearings and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is discussing a plan to raise the basic fares for subways and buses by about 200 to 300 won. If the public transportation fare increase is confirmed, public backlash seems inevitable amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Council have agreed on the need to raise subway and bus fares in Seoul for the first time in five years since 2015 and have begun discussing specific increase plans. Three options for the increase amount?200 won, 250 won, and 300 won?are being seriously considered. The current basic fares for Seoul subways and buses are 1,250 won and 1,200 won respectively, based on transportation card usage. If the 300 won increase based on the bus fare is confirmed, the rate of increase will be 25%.

The city and the council are also considering raising the current additional fare of 100 won per 5 km of public transportation to 200 won. If both the basic fare and the distance fare increase, the fare hike felt by citizens will inevitably seem even larger.

Since Seoul’s subway system is connected to the metropolitan area, it is difficult to raise fares independently. The city plans to coordinate with other local governments in the metropolitan area, the Korea Railroad Corporation, and village bus associations with the goal of applying the fare increase plan in the first half of next year.

However, if the fare increase is pushed forward amid the COVID-19 spread and the overall economic difficulties faced by small business owners and the public, strong public opposition is expected. To raise fares, public hearings and reviews by external committees must be conducted. It is uncertain how much social consensus can be gained during the public discussion process.

Operators of subways and buses have expressed difficulties, saying that the number of public transportation users has significantly decreased since the COVID-19 outbreak, and in the case of subways, losses due to free rides for seniors have been increasing every year. They are demanding government compensation for losses caused by free rides and revisions to the Urban Railway Act, but the government holds the position that it is not appropriate to inject national funds into urban railways owned by local governments. As a result, the subsidy burden that Seoul must support on its own is also increasing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.