'We take the subway for work too': Korean seniors frustrated by talk of rush hour transit limits
Early one morning at Guui and Sindang stations on Seoul Subway Line 2, older passengers streamed through the turnstiles. They were not traveling for leisure. They were heading to low-wage shifts as cleaners, security guards and short-term office workers. Those working seniors are pushing back against remarks by President Lee Jae Myung, who recently suggested reviewing a possible limit on senior citizens’ free subway rides during peak commuting hours. Lee floated the idea as part of efforts to ease rush hour congestion, saying seniors who are not working might consider refraining from travel at those times. For many older commuters, the remarks struck a nerve. They say the proposal paints seniors as idle and unproductive, ignoring the growing number who rely on early-morning subway rides to earn a living. “If they tell me not to use it in the morning, I can’t do my part-time job,” said Park, 72, who commutes by subway six days a week for clerical work. Kim, 84, who leaves home each day for a 7 a.m. cleaning shift, echoed the frustration. “Just because we’re old doesn’t mean
Apr 3, 2026By Hankookilbo
