Labor and Management at Urban Railways in Six Major Cities, Including Busan, Urge Democratic Party Floor Leader to Secure National Funding for Free-Transportation Losses

[Financial News] Representatives of labor and management from six urban railway operators nationwide, including Busan Transportation Corporation, met with Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the afternoon of the 7th. They delivered a joint recommendation calling for the government to assume responsibility for losses from free urban railway transportation and institutionalize a support system.
Before the meeting, the labor and management representatives held a joint council meeting to discuss a coordinated response to secure national funding for losses from free transportation. They then visited the Democratic Party of Korea floor leader’s office to deliver the joint recommendation. It called for legislation requiring national government funding to cover losses from free urban railway transportation, the establishment of a reasonable funding-sharing system among the national government, local governments and operators, and institutional support for the sustainable operation of urban railways.
During their meeting with Han, the labor and management representatives said, "We ask for active discussion and cooperation to clarify the national government’s responsibility so that transportation welfare can be provided reliably to the public, and to ensure that related bills supporting this responsibility are passed promptly." Several bills, including amendments to the Urban Railway Act, have been introduced in the 22nd National Assembly to establish a legal basis for national support for free transportation.
Han responded, "The issue has been repeated for years because there is no legal basis for supporting free transportation, a transportation welfare program," adding, "I will carefully examine the difficulties faced in the field and work to ensure that the relevant bills can be discussed promptly in the National Assembly."
Free urban railway transportation is a universal transportation welfare program provided under law for older adults, people with disabilities and others. However, as the number of eligible passengers has increased with population aging, losses from free transportation at the six institutions nationwide totaled 775.4 billion won last year, accounting for 52% of their combined net loss for the year.
At Busan Transportation Corporation, losses from free transportation totaled 185.4 billion won last year, accounting for 86.5% of its net loss for the year. The proportion of passengers traveling free of charge was 35%, the highest level nationwide.


[email protected] Kwon Byung-seok Reporter