The
uprising issue nowadays is ‘Should subway freeriding of the elderly be
abolished?’, and as I am one of subway users, I thought about this issue. My opinion
about this question is that the freeriding for the elderly should be abolished.
Reasons
for my opinion are three. First, financial loss caused by the elderly
freeriding is increasing every year. Seoul Metro and Seoul City said, “From
2010 to 2015, about 50 billion won was lost from the freeriding.”, and they
also mentioned that the elderly freeriding takes 65% of all freeriding types.
Considering that Korea will be aged society with 24.3% of the elderly,
financial loss will continue and grow. Seoul City also said that, “The reason
of the 65% of the loss comes from the elderly freeriding.”
Second,
the loss from maintaining senior discount policy is filled up by raising fee.
Raising fee becomes a distress to the young, who actively take subways. For
example, I take a subway to go to school, and it charges me about 100,000 won
per month. Since I pay transportation expenses, this becomes a burden to me.
Seoul City, however, announced that they will increase 200 won of the subway
fee in 2017, making it 1450 won. Increasing fee will also increase the young’s
spending, which will be very stressful.
Third,
Senior Pass Card can be used by other people who are not seniors. Senior Pass
Card is provided to people who are subjects of freeriding. Though the card is
for the elderly, Seoul Metro said that they caught 195,749 of not-senior people
using this card. Seoul Metro also said that, “Accumulated illegal rides can
effect on increasing fee.”
Financial
loss, increasing fee, and unauthorized usage of senior pass card are reasons of
my opinion; the elderly freeriding should be abolished. It looks like all my
three reasons are actually telling that the elderly freeriding is causing
financial problems. To stop the problem, it would be nice to abolish the
freeriding of the elderly.
References
[기획] 65세 이상 지하철 경로우대 이대로 좋은가? (2015, November 25). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://www.segye.com/content/html/2015/11/25/20151125002371.html?OutUrl=naver
[댓글多뉴스] 서울지하철, 2호선 빼고 모두 적자 소식에 네티즌... (2015,
November 5). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://maxim.wowtv.co.kr/cms/contents_view.php?contents_uid=6935
(n.d.). Retrieved December
5, 2015, from http://img.etoday.co.kr/pto_db/2015/04/20150403011731_614266_600_540.jpg
Dear Jaewon,
답글삭제I’m interested in financial loss caused by the elderly free riding, so your opinion is interesting and informative for me. Also, your paragraph is written in well-proven example. However, it doesn’t present specific policy suggestion what you think. For example, this is my opinion, “I think that the government will try to be selective in supplying financial aid.” I hope it will be helpful.
Thanks,
Eunju
Hi Jaewon,
답글삭제Before I read your post, I didn't know about financial loss caused by the elderly freeriding. I also think it should be abolished. Many statistical data in your post make your post more believable. I think if you attach the graph about the issue, like ' http://pds.joinsmsn.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/201311/11/htm_201311111153530103011.gif ', it will be better.
Thanks,
Jaemin
Dear Jaewon,
답글삭제I read your opinion very interesting. I commented on your blog last week. Your writing is persuasive as always. Also, that picture explains your topic very well. With a little revising, your paragraph will be a good piece of writing.
Sincerely,
Dahee
Hi Jaewon,
답글삭제I’m not agreeing with your opinion. I think we can bear the financial problem you said than we just see elderly who sitting for nothing in park. We have to do the handsome thing to old people, because they are our parents someday.
Have a wonderful day,
Eunju