A file photo of a Seoul city bus provided by the city government.
SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — With transportation cards becoming ubiquitous among commuters on city buses, Seoul city government plans to introduce buses without fare boxes, causing public concerns.
The city plans to cater to any inconvenience caused by the lack of fare boxes by putting up QR codes at every bus station through which passengers can download a mobile transportation card app, which allows users to use their phones as transportation cards.
However, there are some concerns.
“It wouldn’t be a problem for most of the young adults who normally use cards for transportation, but I still find seniors and children paying bus fares in cash,” said a 21-year-old college student surnamed Kim. “I’m just not sure if it’s the best way for everyone.”
Statistics show that 12.7 percent of those paying in cash on public buses are seniors, who are relatively inexperienced with using mobile phones, accessing QR codes or installing apps.
The 2020 Digital Divide Survey reported that only 35.7 percent of senior citizens over 60 years of age said they can download and install necessary apps.
“It is inevitable that the world continues to develop and change, but I just wish there’d be more systems or promotions to allow seniors some time to adjust to the change,” said a 74-year-old resident surnamed Seok.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
