Seoul bus fares to rise from Saturday as transportation companies struggle

Social Affairs

Published: 10 Aug. 2023, 15:02 Updated: 13 Aug. 2023, 22:36

Seoul bus fares to rise from Saturday as transportation companies struggle

Bus fares will rise at least 300 won ($0.22) starting this Saturday. This file photo dated July 13 shows passengers getting on buses near Seoul Station. [NEWS1]

Bus fares in Seoul will rise at least 300 won ($0.22) starting this Saturday, marking the first hike in eight years.

The single adult bus fare will rise from 1,200 won to 1,500 won for the general green and blue buses; from 2,300 won to 3,000 won for inter-city buses, usually red; from 2,150 won to 2,500 won for the midnight buses; and from 900 won to 1,200 won for green village buses, also called maeul buses. The single adult fare on yellow buses, known for their circular routes throughout the city, will also rise from 1,100 won to 1,400 won.

The discount rates for minors on buses will stay the same; at around 60 percent for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 and around 37 percent for children between the ages of six to 12. Children younger than six ride for free.

The 20 percent discount for the passengers riding their first bus of the day before 6:30 a.m. would apply the same, said the city government.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government had announced earlier its intention to hike both bus and subway fares within this year to address the continued financial struggles of public transportation operators.

Starting Oct. 7, the subway fares in Seoul will rise 150 won for adults to 1,400 won.

The city plans a further fare hike of 150 won next year.

The metropolitan government blamed the woes suffered by subway and bus operators on reduced demand for public transportation during the Covid-19 pandemic, rising personnel costs and general inflation.

The annual profit of subway operators in Seoul dropped from 2 trillion won in 2019 to 1.6 trillion won in 2021, according to the city government. In the same time period, operation costs grew an average of 2.3 percent annually to 2.6 trillion won.

The growth of the elderly population has also fueled public transportation deficits. People over 65 years old ride the subway for free in most cities, including Seoul.

Korea has one of the fastest-aging societies in the world, with people over the age of 65 accounting for 17.5 percent of the total population as of last year, according to Statistics Korea.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]