"Today, it is the elderly who built the subway and created a prosperous nation"

CBS Radio, Debate on Free Subway Rides
"Why Bring Up the Elderly?" vs "30% Deficit Due to Free Rides"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "Isn't it the elderly who built the economically prosperous country we live in today, with subways and all? The elderly took care of the subway and made this country wealthy, yet they receive no benefits and are constantly blamed whenever something happens..."

Kim Ho-il, President of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, expressed this view on the CBS radio program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 15th regarding the issue of free subway rides for seniors. Currently, seniors aged 65 and over can ride the subway for free. Amid some local governments, including Daegu Metropolitan City, pushing to raise the free ride age limit, CBS Radio held a debate between Song Si-young, Chairman of the Correct Union of Seoul Metro, and Kim Ho-il, President of the Korea Senior Citizens Association.

President Kim pointed out that blaming seniors for subway deficits is wrong, as the deficits are due to mismanagement.

Chairman Song said, "Seoul Metro actually reports an annual deficit exceeding 1 trillion won, and 30-35% of this loss is due to free subway rides," adding, "For the past 40 years, our company and employees have borne the losses caused by free rides. There has been no government support at all. Now that the deficit has exceeded a manageable level, the debate over free rides has arisen."

President Kim countered, "Looking at the subway, there are many people during morning and evening rush hours, but at other times, many seats are empty. The electricity cost for running the trains is the same regardless of whether a few seniors ride in those empty seats or not. So, saying that seniors riding causes deficits is an untenable argument."

Chairman Song explained, "Because we are not collecting the fares we should, we are losing revenue. Besides electricity costs, since seniors, disabled persons, and other free ride beneficiaries are counted as passengers along with regular riders, more trains are deployed, and the resulting management personnel, goods, facilities, and maintenance costs naturally increase."

President Kim also expressed a critical stance on raising the free ride age to around 70.

"I have been a head of a senior center, and when there is a meeting at our apartment's senior center, younger seniors aged 65 to 70 feel somewhat awkward going there. Some people say this. Also, nowadays, seniors look healthier and more vigorous than before, not bent over, but the important thing is that after retirement, they face economic poverty without income. You cannot ignore the difference between looking healthy and actually being in economic poverty. So, since they are retired and have no income..."

On January 30, citizens wearing masks are waiting for the train at Sinchon Station on Subway Line 2 in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

President Kim said, "If you say benefits are not given, then raise the retirement age to 69 or so. Many other countries provide old-age pensions of over 1 million won per month. Our country does not do that. So, if you say benefits are not given to the poor, then pushing those aged 65 to 69 into a blind spot only causes them more hardship."

Chairman Song, regarding the view that free subway rides are an indispensable welfare benefit, said, "The issues of elderly poverty and retirement age are matters the government should handle. I don't understand why the subway transportation business should be responsible for those parts," adding, "The issues of elderly poverty and retirement age should be dealt with by the government. I see these as separate issues."

President Kim argued, "Doesn't he want to become elderly? I didn't want to become elderly, but I did because time passed. Everyone becomes elderly as time passes. Good elderly welfare means my welfare in old age is well taken care of, so elderly issues are everyone's issues."

Chairman Song said, "The company is really struggling so much that there are many cases where employees pay out of pocket for missing supplies, and employees are so short-staffed that they have to visit the labor office to take leave," adding, "We advocate for normalizing fare increases and national government support for losses."

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