Seocho District to Provide Seniors Aged 65 and Older with Up to 240,000 Won a Year in Bus Fares

[Financial News] Seoul's Seocho District will provide seniors aged 65 and older with up to 240,000 won a year in bus fare support. Following its operation of free shuttle buses such as the Hyodo Bus and Culture Bus, the district is expanding the program to cover fares for city and village buses that residents actually use. Seocho District announced on the 29th that it will launch its senior transportation fare support program for residents aged 65 and older for the first time and begin accepting advance applications on October 1.
The program is available to residents aged 65 and older who are registered as residents of Seocho District. Those who use Seoul city and village buses can receive refunds of up to 60,000 won per quarter, or up to 240,000 won annually, for the fares they actually pay.
The support applies to bus rides taken from November 1 onward. Fares incurred in November will be settled and paid for the first time at the end of December. After that, expenses will be settled every three months and paid into the applicant's account in March, June, September and December each year.
The program was created to reduce the transportation burden on seniors living in areas such as Umyeon-dong and Naegok-dong, where access to subway stations is relatively limited. Seniors who rely on buses for everyday trips to hospitals, welfare centers and markets are the primary beneficiaries.
Applications can be submitted online or in person at a neighborhood community service center. Online applicants must register an account in their own name and the number of the Seoul senior-discount transit card they use on the integrated senior transportation fare support portal. Those who have difficulty applying online can visit the neighborhood community service center in their area with their identification card, transit card and a bankbook in their own name. Seniors with limited mobility may also apply through a family member or another authorized representative.
Seocho District currently operates 12 free shuttle buses, including the Hyodo Bus and Culture Bus, 76 times a day. The buses connect local welfare centers, libraries and sports facilities. Last year, the district also introduced an ultra-precise real-time location information service for public buses.
Seocho District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, "We will continue expanding practical welfare policies that seniors can feel in their daily lives by adding support for everyday bus fares to the existing Hyodo Bus and Culture Bus services."

[email protected] Reporter Seong Cho-rong Reporter