Seoul City Promulgates Ordinance to Support Bus Fares for Seniors Aged 70 and Over... "Will Gather Public Opinion"

Promulgation of "Ordinance on Supporting Transportation Expenses for Seniors in Seoul"

Expansion of Senior Transportation Welfare to Buses... From Age 70

Implementation After Gathering Public Opinions Through Hearings

On July 13, the Seoul Metropolitan Government promulgated an ordinance to support bus fares for seniors aged 70 and above. This provides a legal basis for fare support, but the specific beneficiaries and timing of implementation will be further discussed.

The "Ordinance on Supporting Transportation Expenses for Seniors in Seoul Metropolitan City," which was promulgated on this day, stipulates that bus fares—either partially or in full—may be subsidized for seniors aged 70 and over who are registered residents of Seoul. This expands the focus of transportation welfare for seniors, which had previously been limited to subways, to include buses, and raises the eligible age from 65 to 70.

Elderly people are walking on the streets near Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Asia Business Daily

However, as it is expected that some current beneficiaries might not be able to receive the benefits, the city government has decided to hold a public hearing to collect opinions from various sectors before finalizing the details and timing of the program's implementation.

Recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter of the Korean Senior Citizens Association submitted an official proposal to the city for a public hearing related to senior citizen public transportation policies. The city plans to co-host the public hearing as requested by the association in order to gather opinions from a diverse range of citizens.

On the same day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also promulgated 31 other bills and amendments, including the "Ordinance to Support the 41st World Youth Day Seoul 2027." The "World Youth Day Seoul Support Ordinance" requires the Mayor of Seoul to establish and implement specific support plans to ensure the successful hosting of the Catholic World Youth Day, which will be held in Seoul from August 3 to 8 next year.

The "Ordinance on the Status and Rights of Artists" stipulates that the Mayor of Seoul should strive to establish an ethical framework for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and that support for copyright protection related to artistic activities involving generative AI will be included in the city's scope of work.

An ordinance was also promulgated to add pregnant women to the list of groups eligible for discounts on admission (usage) fees for various facilities, including Hangang Park, parking lots, urban parks, and the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall. In addition, with the promulgation of the "Partial Amendment to the Service Ordinance," public officials of both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Council will be entitled to take one special self-care leave per year to relieve mental and physical burnout caused by work.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.