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Mon, June 27, 2022 | 08:13
Seoul may hike subway, bus fares this year
서울 지하철·버스요금 연내 인상될 듯
Posted : 2011-09-04 18:13
Updated : 2011-09-04 18:13
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By Kim Rahn

The likely rise of subway and bus fares in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas by more than 100 won this year will unlikely please the public.

Despite protests, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Council said Sunday that an increase in public transportation fares is expected this year.

Autumn is the most suitable time to raise the fares they say. It would be difficult for policymakers to brave public backlash for raising such fares any later than that this year or next year due to crucial elections ― a by-election in late October to select the new Seoul mayor, general elections in April next year, and a presidential election the following December.

“In discussions with Incheon and Gyeonggi Province since early this year, the decision of when to raise has not been made. Complicated city affairs such as the referendum on free school meals have delayed the process. But we have elections next year, so we can’t put it off anymore and the fares have to increase within this year,” a city official said.

He said if they miss the chance this year, the hike may not be possible until 2013 after all elections have taken place. “In that case, subway and bus operators will see snowballing losses. They already see a 500 billion won in deficit per year,” the official said.

How much to increase is also a question. The city earlier planned to raise the basic fare by 200 won from the current 900 won. But in June, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security recommended local authorities raise public fees by within 10 percent of the previous fees ― in the case of Seoul that is 90 won, or roughly 100 won.

“Since the guideline was announced, there has been a stalemate. 100 won is too small, as the fares haven’t risen for more than four years. If the central government provides financial support, we’ll set the fare at 1,000 won but if it won’t, we can’t,” the official said.

The city council considers the hike feasible.

“Citizens may suffer from additional financial burden, but we also should solve the growing deficit. We’ll have to make a conclusion in October,” council member Kim Myung-soo said.

Citizens remain against the plan, saying they are already under financial pressure from inflation. A blogger named “yeonpil” said, “Everything goes up except for my salary. Do you want me to live or die?”

Another blogger “kangyang” said, “I admit public transportation fares in Korea are cheaper than those in other countries. But whenever the government has raised the fares, it cites the deficit. But the operators never come out of the deficit despite the increases. They should reform their reckless management first.”

서울 지하철·버스요금 연내 인상될 듯
서울지역 지하철, 버스, 상·하수도 등의 공공요금 인상이 다음달 결론날 가능성이 커지고 있다. 서울 공공요금 인상이 다음달을 넘기면 굵직한 정치일정을 앞두고 있어 실기할 수 있다는 공감대가 형성되고 있기 때문이다. 4일 서울시와 서울시의회에 따르면 오세훈 전 서울시장이 주민투표 직후 물러나 10·26 서울시장 보궐선거, 내년 총선거와 대통령선거 등 정치일정이 줄줄이 이어지면서 서울시 공공요금 인상에 대한 ‘10월 적기론’이 힘을 얻고 있다. 서울시 공공요금 인상은 고물가를 고려한 정부의 상반기 공공요금 자제 요청과 주민투표를 앞둔 서울시와 시의회의 소극적인 태도로 미뤄졌으나 오세훈 시장 사퇴를 계기로 사정이 달라졌다. 10·26 보선으로 선출된 새 시장에게 공공요금 인상 추진을 바라기 어려워지는데다 내년 총선과 대선을 앞두고도 역시 표심을 의식해 인상에 나서기 힘들 것이라는 분석이 서울시 안팎에서 나오고 있다. 서울시 관계자는 “공공요금 인상이 연내 이뤄지지 않으면 향후 정치일정을 고려할 때 2013년으로 넘어갈 가능성이 크다”며 “그럴 경우 연간 5000억원에 이르는 재정결손이 발생해 올해와 내년 2년만 따져도 1조원에 달할 것”이라고 말했다. 그는 “재정압박이 가중돼 꼭 필요한 투자가 위축될 수 있다”고 덧붙였다. 서울시의회도 10월 임시회를 앞두고 고민하고 있는 것으로 알려졌다. 시의회는 공공요금 인상이 치솟는 물가를 부추겨 서민의 생활고를 가중시킬 수 있는 점을 고려해야 하지만 서울시 재정 건전성을 위한 공공요금 현실화도 외면하기 힘들다는 입장이다. 시의회 다수를 차지하고 있는 민주당의 김명수 원내대표는 “높은 물가로 인한 시민들의 고통을 가장 먼저 생각하고 있다”며 “공공요금 인상에 대해서는 심도 있는 논의를 해나갈 것”이라고 말했다. 또 “10월에는 공공요금 인상 폭을 줄이든 인상 대상을 좁히든 1차적인 결론을 내야할 것”이라고 덧붙였다. 서울 지하철과 시내버스 기본요금(교통카드 기준)은 2007년 4월 800원에서 900원으로 각각 100원 오른 뒤 4년째 동결된 상태다. 2007년 이후 올해까지 최근 5년간 누적 적자는 지하철 부문 2조2654억원, 버스 부문 1조5392억원으로 총 4조원에 육박하는 것으로 시는 파악하고 있다. 서울시는 아울러 10년간 동결돼 온 상수도 요금과 6년간 묶인 하수도 요금도 사업적자 해소를 위한 요금 현실화 차원에서 인상을 추진하고 있다.
Emailrahnita@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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