Seoul Offers '200,000 Won' Transportation Allowance for Seniors Returning Driver's Licenses

Doubled from 100,000 to 200,000 Won
Subways Require Use of 'Senior Free Transportation Card'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has increased the amount of transportation card credit given to seniors who voluntarily surrender their driver's licenses from 100,000 won to 200,000 won.

On the 5th, the city announced that starting this year, seniors aged 70 and older participating in the 'Senior Driver's License Voluntary Surrender Transportation Card Support Project' will receive transportation cards loaded with 200,000 won. Since the project began in 2019, a total of 104,686 people have surrendered their driver's licenses over six years.

From the 10th, 31,800 seniors aged 70 who voluntarily surrender their driver's licenses will be supported with prepaid transportation cards on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible applicants are Seoul residents born on or before December 31, 1955, based on the license surrender date. The transportation cards can be used on buses, taxis, and all nationwide T-money affiliated stores such as convenience stores. However, for subways, since a separate free ride system for seniors is operated, the 'Senior Free Transportation Card' must be used to avoid fare deductions.

A city official stated, "As South Korea enters a super-aged society, the proportion of seniors is increasing, and concerns and anxiety about accidents involving elderly drivers due to driving inexperience are growing. To encourage smooth voluntary surrender of driver's licenses by seniors and reduce social costs caused by traffic accidents, we decided to increase the support amount."

According to a study by the Korea Transport Institute titled 'The Effect of Senior Driver's License Voluntary Surrender Policy on Reducing Traffic Accidents,' it was analyzed that when one license holder aged 65 or older surrenders their license, approximately 420,000 won in social costs are reduced annually.

Seniors aged 70 or older who wish to surrender their driver's licenses can apply by visiting their local community service center with their driver's license. If the license is lost, they can submit a 'Driving Record Certificate' issued by the nearest police station's civil affairs office or the Government24 website along with an ID card.

Seniors who have voluntarily surrendered their driver's licenses while registered as residents in Seoul but have not received their transportation cards can apply by submitting a 'Driver's License Cancellation Decision Notice' issued by the nearest police station along with an ID card.

Yeo Jang-kwon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Transportation Office, said, "With the increase in support funds for senior license surrender starting this year, we hope this will help protect the safety of seniors who voluntarily surrender their licenses as well as other citizens and reduce traffic accidents involving elderly drivers. We will continue to cooperate closely with related organizations to strengthen traffic safety."