Joo Jung-wan
The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo.
London operates a public transportation system that, at first glance, appears more generous to older adults than Korea’s. Residents aged 60 and older can apply for a free travel card, which allows them to use not only the Underground but also buses at no cost. To prevent misuse, eligibility is verified annually to ensure that applicants actually reside in London. Foreign nationals can also benefit if they maintain a local address and live there.
An older passenger passes through a subway turnstile at Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. [YONHAP]
Compared with this, major Korean cities including Seoul offer free subway rides only to those aged 65 and older. Yet London imposes a key restriction: These users must pay fares during weekday morning rush hour before 9 a.m. In Seoul, by contrast, no such time limits exist.
Statistics illustrate the issue. According to Seoul Metro, older riders accounted for 9.7 percent of passengers between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. last year. The share fell slightly to 7.9 percent between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., though it remained significant during peak commuting hours.
If older riders were required to pay a fare during these congested periods, usage would not fall to zero. Some would continue to ride and pay, while others might shift their travel to less crowded times. Either way, congestion could be eased to some extent. Such a measure could also help mitigate growing intergenerational tensions over the rising cost of welfare.
President Lee Jae Myung’s remark at a Cabinet meeting on March 24 about reviewing limits on free rides during commuting hours deserves broader public debate. The issue should have been discussed earlier, not only as part of temporary measures tied to high oil prices. London’s time restrictions were not introduced as an energy policy but as a way to balance welfare benefits with social costs.
Korea’s population is aging rapidly. As of last month, people aged 65 or older accounted for 21.6 percent of the population, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Seoul, at 20.7 percent, has already entered a “super-aged” society. The Ministry of Data and Statistics projects that by around 2035, the older population will exceed 15 million and make up 30 percent of the total. It will be increasingly difficult for the working-age population alone to bear the expanding welfare burden.
Politicians often find it easier to expand benefits than to reduce them, especially ahead of local elections in June. In that context, Lee’s willingness to raise the issue is notable. London’s model may not offer a perfect solution, but alternatives must be explored before generational conflict deepens further.
Members of an older adult organization chant slogans during a press conference held in front of the Blue House fountain in Jongno District, central Seoul, on March 26, condemning President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks about reviewing reductions to public transportation benefits for older people during commuting hours. [NEWS1]
Recent developments, however, are disappointing. Opposition from older adult associations was predictable. The presidential office’s swift retreat was not. Hong Ik-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, reportedly told a meeting with the Korean Senior Citizens Association on Friday that there were no plans to limit free rides. His remarks, cited in the association’s press release, marked a clear shift from the president’s comments just 10 days earlier.
Some have suggested raising the age threshold for such benefits, but that approach is not straightforward. International organizations such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development define the older population as those aged 65 and older, making it a global standard. Adopting a different benchmark in Korea could complicate international comparisons.
Encouraging the demographic to remain active outside the home has recognized social benefits. Research by the Korea Transport Institute suggests that free rides generate not only costs but also meaningful social gains. The key question is who should bear the cost. Ultimately, both older and younger generations will need to make compromises, and political leaders should avoid exacerbating divisions rather than working to ease them.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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