Cheong Wa Dae Says President Lee Leaves 'Rush-Hour Congestion Relief' to Transport Ministry, Including Senior Free Rides

According to Financial News, President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea on the 2nd ordered that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport be given full responsibility for measures to ease congestion on public transport during rush hour, including a study on restricting free public transport for seniors at those times.
A Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters at the Chunchugwan Press Center at the Blue House that the president "instructed that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport be entrusted with matters related to the time slots for free public transport use by seniors, as this is an issue of rush-hour congestion measures."
Earlier, on the 24th of last month, President Lee, while discussing responses to energy supply issues stemming from the Middle East situation, also addressed ways to ease congestion on public transport during commuting hours. He remarked, "If the concentration during commuting hours is too high, it becomes unbearable, doesn't it?" and went on, "What about limiting free use by the elderly during peak hours by one or two hours?" He then added, "Some seniors also commute to work, so it may not be easy to distinguish, but perhaps we could consider restricting those who are just going out for leisure," suggesting, "Let us study ways to disperse demand in such situations."
However, some media outlets pointed out that, even though President Lee had instructed a study on restricting free public transport for seniors during rush hour, no ministry was taking the lead and each was shifting responsibility. His latest move is therefore seen as an attempt to clarify roles and speed up follow-up measures.
By assigning the matter specifically to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the government is also seen as stressing that any partial restriction on free rides for seniors would be a temporary measure driven by the Middle East situation, and not a change to broader senior welfare policy.
The Cheong Wa Dae official stated, "This is a policy to ease rush-hour congestion, and it should not be viewed as tampering with welfare policy."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun and Sung Seok-woo Reporter