Kim In-ho, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "No Discussion on Subway and Other Transportation Fare Increases"

Chairman Kim States "Discussion on Public Transportation Fare Increase Inappropriate During Nationwide Social Distancing Level 2 Elevation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, stated that reports claiming that Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Council have agreed to raise public transportation fares, such as buses and subways, by 200 to 300 won are not true.

Chairperson Kim pointed out that given the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area and the elevation to social distancing level 2, which is severely impacting the national and low-income economy, it is not an appropriate time to increase public transportation fares.

Kim explained that due to the sharp decline in the number of passengers caused by COVID-19, the deficits of the public transportation sector?including Seoul Transportation Corporation, city buses, and village buses?have significantly increased. While closely monitoring the resulting crisis in the public transportation system, he emphasized that considering the unprecedented economic hardships citizens are facing due to COVID-19, it is undesirable to pass the burden of the public transportation sector’s deficits onto the citizens.

Kim also stated that there has been neither an agreement nor even a report to the council regarding the fare increase. He criticized that raising such a significant issue publicly without holding a single public hearing to gather citizens’ opinions indicates a serious problem within the Seoul city system.

He added that once the COVID-19 situation has somewhat stabilized and citizens’ lives have recovered, Seoul City should organize a public hearing to listen to citizens’ opinions on public transportation fares and conduct an in-depth review of whether the timing and amount of any fare increase are appropriate.

Furthermore, Kim expressed his commitment to working actively with Seoul City to devise measures that will help citizens, who are struggling to overcome these difficult times caused by COVID-19, regain stability as soon as possible.

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