"Nearly Half of Passengers Rode for Free"... Seoul Subway Stations with the Highest Senior Free Ride Rates

Jegidong Station Leads in Proportion, Cheongnyangni Station Tops in Number of Senior Free Riders

Which Seoul subway station has the highest proportion of senior citizens riding for free? The answer is Jegidong Station on Line 1. In the first quarter of this year, nearly half (47.2%) of passengers at Jegidong Station were seniors (aged 65 and older) making use of the free ride program. This figure is three times higher than the overall subway average of 15.1%.

Elderly Free Rides on the Subway. Provided by Yonhap News.

According to Seoul Metro's analysis of free rides by seniors in the first quarter of 2026, released on May 11, out of a total of 1.44 million boardings at Jegidong Station, 680,000 were by seniors.

The station with the second highest proportion was Dongmyo Station (42.0%), followed by Cheongnyangni Station (35.9%). Moran Station also recorded 35.9%, matching Cheongnyangni, while Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station ranked fifth at 32.4%. Looking at the top ten stations, three out of every ten passengers were seniors using free rides.

The rankings change when based on the number of senior free riders. Cheongnyangni Station had the highest number, with approximately 760,000 seniors. This was followed by Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (730,000), Yeonsinnae Station (710,000), and Jegidong Station (680,000). Chang-dong, Seoul Station, and Express Bus Terminal Station each recorded around 630,000 senior free riders.

The stations at the top have remained unchanged. In 2024 and 2025, Jegidong, Dongmyo, Cheongnyangni, Moran, and Jongno 3(sam)-ga stations were consistently at the top of the rankings. This means the same stations have occupied the top spots for three consecutive years.

A similar trend is observed at stations near hiking trails. On weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., when there are fewer commuters, the proportion of senior riders soars to between 30% and 40%. Last month, on weekdays, Suraksan Station and Machun Station each recorded 43%, Bulamsan Station 40%, Dobongsan Station 34%, and Achasan Station 33%. This suggests that many seniors visit the mountains during the day on weekdays.

By subway line, Line 1 had the highest proportion at 21.6%. This means that one in every five passengers on Line 1 is a senior riding for free. This was followed by Line 8 at 18.8%, Line 5 at 17.3%, and Lines 3 and 7 in the 16% range, while Line 2 had the lowest percentage at 10.6%.

The overall proportion is slowly rising every year. The proportion of senior free rides was 14.6% in 2024, 15.0% in 2025, and 15.1% in the first quarter of this year. As the population continues to age, this proportion is likely to increase further.

The main issue is the operational burden. While free subway rides for seniors are an essential public service guaranteeing mobility for the elderly, the burden on the operator is structurally increasing as the proportion rises each year and usage becomes concentrated at certain stations and on specific lines.

Ma Haegeun, Head of the Operations Division at Seoul Metro, said, "Free subway rides for seniors are an essential public service to guarantee their mobility rights. However, as the proportion continues to rise and usage becomes concentrated at certain stations and lines, the burden is growing. To ensure the sustainability of the free ride program for seniors, discussions on financial support measures, such as government funding, are necessary."

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