The Seoul city government will push for a public hearing to raise the age for free subway rides from the current 65 to 70 and to discuss free bus rides for older adults.
According to the Seoul city government on the 22nd, the city received an official letter from the Korean Senior Citizens Association Seoul Metropolitan Chapter titled "proposal for a public hearing on senior public transportation policy."
The city plans to co-host the related public hearing as requested by the senior association and to hear opinions from a wide range of residents.
The city also said that on the 19th, Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, and Ko Gwang-seon, the head of the Korean Senior Citizens Association Seoul Chapter, discussed transportation welfare policies for older adults.
Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed in the relevant standing committee a local government ordinance that would allow subsidizing bus fares for residents ages 70 and older. The ordinance is set for a plenary vote on the 24th.
The ordinance was introduced by city council member Lee Byeong-yun (People Power Party, Dongdaemun). Lee explained that the current Welfare of Senior Citizens Act designates only urban rail as a free-use transport facility for older adults, which leads to disparities depending on where people live, so buses should be included.