Seoul City Provides 100,000 Won Transportation Card to Seniors Returning Their Driver's Licenses

Anonymous 100,000 KRW Prepaid Transportation Card for 29,310 People on a First-Come, First-Served Basis
Residents Aged 70+ Registered in Seoul... Return and Receive at Community Centers
1.7 Times Higher Reduction in Senior Traffic Accidents Expected... Support to Be Expanded

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to provide prepaid transportation cards loaded with 100,000 KRW to senior citizens aged 70 and above who voluntarily return their driver's licenses. This measure takes into account the high risk of traffic accidents among elderly drivers, and it is expected that this voluntary license return support project will help prevent traffic accidents.

On the 5th, Seoul announced that starting from the 7th, prepaid transportation cards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to a total of 29,310 senior citizens aged 70 and above.

Senior drivers aged 65 and above have about 1.7 times higher risk of traffic accidents compared to all drivers. Accordingly, Seoul has been encouraging elderly drivers to return their licenses, starting with 16,956 people in 2019 when the transportation card support project began, increasing to 22,626 in 2022, and 25,489 in 2023.

This year’s support targets senior citizens aged 70 and above who are registered residents of Seoul (based on the license return date, born on or before December 31, 1954). If they voluntarily return their driver's licenses, they can receive a transportation card loaded with 100,000 KRW at their local community service center simultaneously with the license return. However, applicants must not have previously received benefits from the voluntary license return program.

The anonymous prepaid transportation cards provided can be used nationwide on transportation modes that accept transportation cards such as buses and taxis, as well as at T-money affiliated convenience stores. When the loaded amount is depleted, users can recharge the card at their own expense for reuse. Since there is a separate free ride system for seniors aged 65 and above on the subway, seniors must use the free transportation card to avoid fare deductions.

Seniors aged 70 and above who wish to voluntarily return their licenses can apply by visiting their local community service center with their driver's license. Seoul supports a one-stop service from license return application to transportation card receipt through the 'Senior Driver License Voluntary Return Simplification Service.' Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Transportation Office, stated, "Seoul’s support project for seniors voluntarily returning their licenses will help reduce traffic accidents involving elderly drivers. We will continue to work with the central government, the T-money Welfare Foundation, and others to expand the scale of support."

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