A senior citizen walks past a subway entrance gate in Seoul on Feb. 14, 2023. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul Metro, the operator of the subway service in Seoul, announced that it will launch a three-month pilot project starting this month to use voice guidance announcements when senior cards are tagged at ticket gates.
The initiative aims to prevent the unauthorized use of senior cards for free subway rides.
Out of the country’s population of 51.6 million, approximately 9 million seniors are exempt from paying subway fares in Seoul and five major metropolitan cities, including Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon.
During the pilot project, when senior cards are tagged, a voice message will be announced, saying, “Hi, senior passenger, please take care of your health.”
This voice announcement will not only facilitate the identification of eligible senior citizens but also help other commuters determine if the cardholder is entitled to use the card, thereby contributing to the prevention of illegal rides.
The pilot project will be carried out at ten subway stations, including Gangnam, Sindorim, and Gwanghwamun, which are known for their high floating populations.
The initiative was proposed by Lee Byung-yun, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
According to Lee, there were a total of 173,295 illegal subway rides reported between 2020 and April of this year, with 69.5 percent of them involving the unauthorized use of senior cards borrowed from acquaintances.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
