The Seoul Metropolitan Government has postponed the time to raise public transportation fares, such as subway and bus, scheduled for the end of April to the second half of this year. It seems to be in line with the government’s announcement of its policy to maintain a freeze on public utility rates in the first half of the year.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 15th, the city changed its position to proceed with the public transportation fare increase in the second half of the year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has maintained its position that an increase in public transportation fares is inevitable as public transportation fares have been frozen for the past eight years despite rising inflation. In the case of Seoul Transportation Corporation, it is recording a deficit of 1 trillion won per year. Accordingly, it was planned to raise the basic fare for public transportation to 300-400 won at the end of April after deliberation by the Price Countermeasure Committee next month.
The change in the position of the Seoul Metropolitan Government came after President Yoon Seok-yeol announced his plan to freeze public utility rates at the 13th Emergency Economic and People’s Livelihood Meeting on the same day. President Yoon said, “We are complaining of difficulties as the burden of heating costs has increased significantly, and the news of plans to increase public rates such as transportation has been added.” said.
Donga.com reporter Cho Hye-sun hs87cho@donga.com
