Urban rail operators from 6 cities urge ruling party to cover free-ride losses with state funds

Labor and management representatives from six urban rail operators — Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon — met with Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Han Byung-do on Monday afternoon and delivered a joint petition calling for the state to take legal responsibility for free-ride losses and to establish a formal support framework.

Before the meeting, the representatives held a joint council to discuss coordinated measures for securing state reimbursement of free-ride losses. The joint petition called for legislation requiring state reimbursement of urban rail free-ride losses, the establishment of a rational cost-sharing framework among the central government, local governments and operators, and institutional support to ensure the sustainable operation of urban rail systems.

During the meeting with Han, the representatives asked him to "clearly define the state's responsibility so that transportation welfare can be provided stably to the public, and to actively discuss and support the early passage of related legislation." Bills to establish a legal basis for state support of free rides — including amendments to the Urban Railroad Act — are currently pending in the National Assembly.

Han said the problem had been repeating for years because there was no legal basis for supporting free rides as a transportation welfare policy. "I will look closely at the difficulties on the ground and work to bring the relevant bills to the National Assembly floor as soon as possible," he said.

Free rides on urban rail are a universal transportation welfare measure mandated by law for senior citizens, people with disabilities and others. As the aging population has expanded the pool of eligible riders, the combined free-ride losses of the six operators nationwide reached 775.4 billion won ($572 million) in 2025, accounting for 52 percent of their total net losses.

Busan Transportation Corporation recorded free-ride losses of 185.4 billion won last year, equal to 86.5 percent of its net loss. Its share of free riders, at 35 percent, is the highest in the country.

Busan Transportation Corporation President Lee Byung-jin said free rides on urban rail generate broad social benefits — including guaranteeing mobility for the transportation-disadvantaged and promoting the health of senior citizens — and therefore represent a welfare policy that the state should share responsibility for. "The accumulated burden of free-ride losses is creating pressure on safety investment, so a rational structure and legal basis for government cost-sharing must be put in place," he said.