City proposes increase in bus, subway fares

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City proposes increase in bus, subway fares

The Seoul Metropolitan Council approved the city administration’s proposal to increase bus and subway fares by 100 won (about 10 cents), the city government said yesterday. After a review by the committee on commodity prices, the changes will probably go into effect in late March or early April, officials at City Hall said.
“The last time transportation fares were raised was in 2004,” one official at the city transportation department said. “Due to the increase in oil prices and labor costs, the increase was inevitable.”
The proposal would increase the basic bus and subway fare from 800 won to 900 for commuters using transportation cards. Cash fares would increase to 1,000 won from the current 900 won, a difference based on the labor costs involved in receiving cash and dispensing tickets by hand, the official said.
That basic subway fare will cover a trip of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The fare is increased by 100 won for each additional 5 kilometers. The present basic fare covers a 12-kilometer trip and an additional 100 won is charged for every additional 6 kilometers.
Inter-city bus fares will also rise, by 300 won, to 1,700 won if a fare card is used or to 1,800 won for cash fares.
In December, the city administration had proposed raising the difference in bus cash fares to 200 won over fares paid by card; the city council rejected that idea.
The Democratic Labor Party and some civic groups have protested the increase, complaining that the city was trying to protect inefficient bus companies by adding to the financial burden of commuters.


By Kim Soe-jung Staff Writer [soejung@joongang.co.kr]
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