Six Urban Railway Labor and Management Groups Urge National Compensation for Free Ride Losses, Deliver Joint Statement to Presidential Policy Committee

"Need for Institutional Support to Maintain Urban Railway Public Service"
National Funding for Free Ride Losses: The First Step Toward Sustainable Public Transit

Labor and management representatives from six urban railway operators nationwide have called for government funding support, stating that they can no longer bear the financial losses caused by legally mandated free transportation.

On July 9, representatives of labor and management from urban railway operators in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon, including Busan Transportation Corporation, visited the Presidential National Policy Planning Committee and delivered a joint statement urging the "legislation of national funding to compensate for losses from free rides" to National Assembly member Lee Yongu.

At the 2025 2nd National Urban Railway Operators Labor-Management Representatives Joint Council, labor and management representatives from six urban railway operators nationwide are taking a commemorative photo. (6th from the left in the first row, Lee Byungjin, President of Busan Transportation Corporation; 4th from the left, Choi Jungsik, Chairman of the Busan Transportation Corporation Labor Union) Provided by Busan Transportation Corporation

The meeting was attended by Lee Byungjin, President of Busan Transportation Corporation, along with labor and management representatives from each urban railway operator. They stated, "With the advent of a super-aged society, the deficit caused by legally mandated free rides is snowballing," and added, "The sustainability of urban railway operations is facing a serious threat."

In the joint statement, the urban railway labor and management representatives emphasized, "Although free transportation is clearly a public service policy of the state, the burden is being entirely shifted to operating agencies and local governments," and stressed, "There is an urgent need for practical national funding measures to ensure sustainable urban railways."

They also delivered the same statement to the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and both ruling and opposition presidential campaign camps in May. This latest statement is a continuation of their efforts, urging the inclusion of this issue as a national policy task ahead of the new government's policy roadmap.

Although amendments to related laws such as the Urban Railway Act, Senior Welfare Act, and Disabled Persons Welfare Act have been proposed several times, all have failed to pass the National Assembly.

Lee Byungjin, President of Busan Transportation Corporation, stated, "Urban railways must be operated stably in order to protect the transportation infrastructure for future generations," and added, "It is ironic that free transportation, intended to uphold public interest, is now threatening the sustainability of the system. We urge the government and the National Assembly to recognize this issue and provide practical support."

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