Controversy Over Abolishing Free Rides for Seniors... Reform New Party: "A Policy Everyone Thought Was Necessary"

Lee Jun-seok's Pledge to Abolish Free Senior Rides
Criticized as 'Unfilial Party'
Reform New Party Says "Policy Everyone Thought Was Necessary"

The appearance of Jongno 3-ga Station on the Seoul subway last September. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Regarding the pledge to ban free subway rides for the elderly, the Korea Senior Citizens Association directly criticized it as “an attempt to create a disgraceful party,” while the Reform New Party countered, saying it is “a policy that everyone thought was necessary.”

On the 19th, Heo Eun-ah, co-chair of the Reform New Party’s founding committee, appeared on SBS Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show and said, “We wanted to reinforce the image that our party is one that thinks about the future rather than immediate votes.”

On the previous day, Lee Jun-seok, chair of the Reform New Party’s policy committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, announcing a pledge to abolish the free subway rides benefit provided to those aged 65 and over. Instead, he proposed providing 120,000 KRW annually, paid as 10,000 KRW per month, for transportation expenses. He also stated, “For the elderly who frequently use public transportation, after spending the 120,000 KRW, they will be able to use buses and subways at a fare discounted by about 40%, which is currently applied to youth.”

Lee Jun-seok, Chairman of the Reform New Party's Policy Committee, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 'New Future Party Founding General Assembly' held on the 16th at Seoul Women's Plaza in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Korea Senior Citizens Association issued a rebuttal statement, saying, “The claim that subways operate at a deficit due to free rides for the elderly is false.” They added, “The idea of presenting a policy that not only fails to honor the elderly who achieved the Miracle on the Han River but instead abuses them is not a new party but an act of creating a disgraceful party, and we strongly condemn it. The 10 million elderly people cannot help but denounce this.”

Regarding this, Committee Chair Heo pointed out, “If the issue was raised as ‘120,000 KRW (transportation expenses) is too little, let’s adjust this,’ then there could be a discussion, but approaching it with just the word ‘abolish’ shows a lack of sincerity in coming to the discussion table.” He added, “I think there should be continuous discussions and debates on this. I hope it won’t be used as a divisive tactic.”

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