Korean Job Discussion Forums

[laynamarya]

According to tonight's MBC news, the basic fare for buses and subway will increase by 150 won, from 900 to 1050, starting next month.

Plan your budgets accordingly.

Here's the same story from SBS (sorry there's no translation).

http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001073659

[r122925]

Gyeonnggi buses increased from 900 to 1000 a month or two ago. I guess Seoul had to not only catch up but go a little farther. Hard to complain too much as it's still cheaper than nearly anywhere else in the developed world.

[Kimchifart]

Yeah, I don't think we'll be grabbing for the pitchforks and torches yet. Still damn cheap if it gets you there alive.

[Dodge7]

[highstreet]

Really? You need to plan a budget for a .12 cent hike?

[soulofseoul]

[quote="highstreet"]Really? You need to plan a budget for a .12 cent hike?[/quote]

You still dont know the type of people who come here yet? haha Im sure there are
a lot of teachers worrying about the extra .12 along with worrying how to smuggle as much water from the schools water cooler :lol:

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Kimchifart]

[laynamarya]

Wow, do I really have to add an emoticon to denote my facetiousness?

Fine.

Plan your budgets accordingly.

Better?

[CPT]

[littlelisa]

[nathanrutledge]

You have to question WHY they are raising the fare though. There was a lot of discussion about this last spring, and the reason is that they are losing money due to the free passes for the elderly.

No big deal, right? Just raise the rates and it'll work out, right? BUT, Korea has an aging population. This is a SIXTEEN percent increase, and in a few years when there are even MORE old people taking free rides and LESS young people replacing them, how much are they going to increase it then?

Sure, it's cheaper than other places but that's not the point - we don't live in other places. In a country where inflation is rampant and people cite the high cost of living as one of the many reasons they don't have children, they are going to add even more to the burden. Remember, this is the "88 man won" generation. The 20 and 30 somethings are barely scraping by and every little bit counts. There is no easy solution. Asking the young to shoulder the burden is just as difficult as asking the elderly to pick up the tab, too.

Anyway, it's NOT just another 150 won - it's a cop out.

[CPT]

What's the 88 man won generation?

It's not that hard to figure out, but is that a thing? Never heard of it.

I'd give the elderly some kind of limit on the free passes if possible. I'm convinced some of them just ride the bus/subway for something to do.

[fermentation]

[Zyzyfer]

<insert old timer post about how the fare used to be 600 won a trip here>