On September 29, 2026, South Korea's Hankyoreh newspaper reported that 'the Seoul Metropolitan Government is moving forward with a plan to raise the eligible age for free urban railway rides for seniors from 65 to 70' and published an article comparing it to Japan's similar system, the 'Silver Pass'.

Seniors aged 70 or older who are registered residents of Tokyo are eligible for the 'Tokyo Silver Pass' and can use Toei Transportation, private buses within Tokyo, and other services for up to 12,000 yen per year. Those with low income who are exempt from resident tax, or those with an annual income of 1.35 million yen or less, can use it for 1,000 yen. As of 2023, the number of Silver Pass holders reached 1.03 million. This corresponds to 41% of Tokyo's seniors aged 70 or older. In the same year, Tokyo's budget allocated to the Silver Pass was 19.0 billion yen, and the user's share of the burden was approximately 3.0 billion yen. The Hankyoreh newspaper article pointed out that 'although it incurs a considerable cost, the Silver Pass has a significant effect'.

According to the '2018 Tokyo Silver Pass Related Survey,' the latest document from a survey on Silver Pass users conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, seniors used the Silver Pass for various purposes such as shopping (62.3%), hospital visits (56.4%), hobby activities (38.4%), and community activities (13.3%). The metropolitan government also receives comments such as, 'My mother was healthy, but she was spending more time at home. Since receiving the Silver Pass, she has been happily going out almost every day. We hope this good system will be maintained for a long time'. The article emphasizes that 'transportation support for seniors is not limited to supporting their lives merely as a means of transport'.

In its 2024 'Comprehensive Community Support Program for Long-Term Care Prevention and Daily Life Support' guidelines, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that 'support for mobility and going out is important for seniors to lead independent daily lives, and participation in social activities, in particular, gives seniors a sense of purpose and also leads to social long-term care prevention'. The idea is that if going out decreases due to reduced mobility, it leads to social isolation and decline in physical function, increasing the burden not only on seniors themselves but also on society as a whole.

Against this background, some local governments are lowering the eligible age for support, aiming to support a wider range of seniors. The article introduces such initiatives in Akita City, Nagoya City, and other areas.

On the other hand, it reports that some municipalities, such as Sapporo City and Kyoto Prefecture, have already raised or are gradually raising the eligible age for support from 70 to 75, citing reasons such as population decline, declining birthrate and aging population, and intergenerational fairness.

Even in South Korea, which entered a super-aging society at a faster pace than Japan, more than 40 years have passed since the 'legal free urban railway ride system for seniors aged 65 or older' began. When it was first implemented in 1980, it was a system that offered a 50% discount on transportation fares for seniors aged 70 or older, including subways. After various changes, such as the eligible age being lowered to 65 in 1982 and the subway discount rate being raised to 100% in 1984, it is now a system where seniors aged 65 or older can use urban railways for free.

However, recently, it is reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is advancing a plan to raise the eligible age from 65 to 70, similar to Japan. The city has clarified that it intends to reduce the operating deficit of urban railways and, using the reduced financial resources, support a portion of bus fares for seniors aged 70 or older.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, losses from free rides for seniors, people with disabilities, national merit recipients, and others reached at least 383.3 billion won (approximately 44.4745 billion yen) as of last year. Furthermore, Daegu City decided in 2023 to gradually raise the eligible age for free rides from the current 65 to 70 by 2028. Instead, it reportedly adopted a policy to lower the eligible age for free city bus rides by one year annually from the current 75, making it free for those aged 70 or older by 2028.

There are also arguments that transportation support for seniors should not be viewed simply through the logic of 'deficits caused by free rides'. In a document on the free subway ride system published in 2021, the Seoul Institute analyzed that 'the free ride system guarantees seniors' fundamental right to mobility. Furthermore, it generates benefits amounting to 365 billion won (approximately 42.2 billion yen) as of 2020, through increased leisure and economic activities, reduced suicides and depression, and lower medical expenses'.

Transportation support for seniors is also deeply intertwined with the issue of universal versus selective welfare, and the nature of the burden between generations. According to Myung-Jin Kim, a senior researcher at NLI Research Institute, 'at the time the free ride system was introduced in South Korea, the national pension system was not yet implemented, so free transportation welfare played a crucial role in supporting seniors' mobility and daily lives'.

Various opinions have been submitted by Korean netizens regarding this article, such as: 'Free rides should be abolished. I think discounts are fine.' 'Politicians and those in power are not reluctant to use taxpayer money to go abroad, but they are reluctant to pay for seniors' transportation costs?' 'Welfare is good, but it should benefit those who need it. Instead of making it unconditionally free, it would be better to allow people to receive benefits by obtaining a pass, like in Japan.' 'South Korea should abolish free subway rides. Many seniors in rural areas cannot even use subways because there aren't any. Wouldn't it be better to provide a fixed amount as a lump-sum transportation allowance?' 'If those aged 60 or older get a 50% discount, the deficit could be resolved to some extent, and even those who previously rode for free would find it hard to object.' (Translation/Editing: Asae)