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| People pass through the fare gate at Sinchon Station on Seoul Metro Line 2, Jan. 24. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
The government and the ruling party will review changing the eligible age for free subway ridership ― possibly to 70 from the current 65 ― in a bid to stem the snowballing deficit caused by the welfare policy offered to senior citizens.
"We will discuss with the government the issue of raising the age of free ridership as well as how the central and local governments should share the burden of financial deficits," ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young told reporters, Friday.
The lawmaker's remark came days after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cried foul that the Ministry of Finance is refusing to share the burden of Seoul Metro's snowballing deficits incurred by the free ridership scheme for the elderly ― a policy adopted by the central government about 40 years ago.
Under a senior welfare law enacted in 1984, all seniors aged 65 and above can use the subway free of charge in any city, regardless of their income.
But following Seoul city's recent announcement that subway fares are set to rise by 300 or 400 won from as early as April, due to the worsening deficit caused in part by the welfare policy, the issue of raising the eligible age for free ridership has become a hotly debated topic among the public.
According to Seoul Metro data, seniors aged 65 and over took about 200 million free rides in 2022. The estimated loss per free ride was 1,355 won. The subway operator viewed that raising the eligibility age to 70 could reduce losses by as much as 152.4 billion won.
"It is time to begin public discussions on making revisions to the public transportation fare system," Oh wrote on Facebook, Friday. He urged the finance ministry to partially cover the losses. The mayor said the city has recently begun talks with seniors' associations on making adjustments to the welfare policy.
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