Seoul bus, subway fares to rise in June

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced that it has passed a bill to raise subway fares in the capital city by 200 won (20 cents) and bus fees by 150 won.

According to the council, 74 of 92 council members present at its plenary session on Thursday voted in favor of the proposed increase, which will go in to effect in June.

The decision came a month after the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it was reviewing a possible fare hike in the capital.

The recent decision means that subway fees will rise from 1,050 won to 1,250 won per trip, while fares for the blue and green buses that generally cover most parts of Seoul will cost 1,200 won per trip.

Fares for the red express buses that take commuters in the metropolitan area to downtown Seoul will increase from 1,850 won per ride to 2,300 won. Fees for short-route buses, including those that run in residential areas, will also go up to 900 won from the current 750 won.

Fares for the yellow buses that circulate through the business and shopping areas between the downtown area and sub-central areas in Seoul will increase to 1,100 won.

The last increase in public transportation fares in the city was implemented in February 2012, when the city government raised costs for buses and subways by 150 won.

A number of civic groups, including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, held a press conference ahead of the regular session on Thursday to denounce the move, which officials said was decided with a lack of regard for public opinion.

BY KANG KI-HEON [nam.yoonseo@joongang.co.kr]