The Seoul Metropolitan Government has established a legal basis to subsidize bus fares for residents aged 70 and older. Pregnant women will also be eligible for free or discounted access to city-run parking lots and other facilities, including Han River parks.
The city said it reviewed and approved the promulgation of the ordinances and rules through its ninth Ordinance and Rule Deliberation Committee, held Tuesday. A total of 31 ordinances — four newly enacted and 27 amended — take effect Monday. Of seven amended rules, two also take effect Monday, with the remaining five set to take effect July 27.
The newly enacted ordinance on senior transit support allows the city to cover part or all of bus fares for residents aged 70 or older with a registered Seoul address. The measure extends the city's existing senior transit welfare policy — previously limited to the subway — to bus services. The central feature is raising the eligibility age from 65 to 70.
However, challenges remain before the policy can be implemented. Residents between 65 and 69 who currently receive transit support would lose that benefit under the new framework. The city plans to hold public hearings with senior citizens' associations to gather input before finalizing the details and timeline of the new system.
Also promulgated was an ordinance supporting the 2027 41st World Youth Day in Seoul, a Catholic gathering scheduled for Aug. 3–8 next year. The ordinance requires the Seoul mayor to draw up and carry out a concrete support plan to ensure the event's success.
A partial amendment to the ordinance on guaranteeing the status and rights of artists requires the Seoul mayor to work toward building an ethical framework for the use of generative AI, and adds support for copyright protection in artistic activities involving generative AI to the city's project scope.
The ordinance revisions also add pregnant women to the list of those eligible for fee reductions at a range of city-run facilities, including Han River parks, parking lots, urban parks and the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture. Pregnant women will accordingly be able to use these facilities free of charge or at a discounted rate.
Amendments to the civil servant conduct ordinances of both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Council introduce a special annual self-care leave day for employees, aimed at helping them recover from work-related mental and physical burnout.
ikson@heraldcorp.com
