Lee Junseok Criticizes Kim Moonsoo's 'Free Rides for Seniors' Pledge: "This Is the State of the Conservative Camp"

Kim Moonsoo Announces Plan to Expand Free Rides for Seniors to Buses
Lee Junseok Criticizes "Reverse Discrimination Against Seniors in Rural Areas"

Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and a candidate in the People Power Party's presidential primary, has pledged to introduce free bus rides for seniors aged 65 and older. In response, Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party who previously called for the abolition of free subway rides for seniors, strongly criticized the proposal, stating, "Politicians' impoverished philosophies must not be allowed to impoverish the future of our children."

Candidate Lee Junseok posted on his social media that "the basic fare for metropolitan subway will increase by 150 won. This is the result of indiscriminate and unfair welfare policies." He pointed out that "although free rides for the elderly appear to be preferential treatment for seniors, the benefit is concentrated among some elderly residents near subway stations, which clearly discriminates against seniors living in Samcheok, Gangwon, Boseong, Jeonnam, and Okcheon, Chungbuk." Reform New Party

Earlier, Kim Moonsoo's camp released a statement on the 20th, saying, "Currently, seniors can use the subway for free regardless of the time of day, but we will also allow them to use buses for free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., outside of the busy rush hours when young and middle-aged commuters crowd public transit." The statement argued, "The current free subway ride policy is ineffective for seniors who prefer buses." Park Sooyoung, policy chief of Kim Moonsoo's campaign, explained, "A few seniors riding the bus will not significantly increase costs," and added, "It will not be very expensive."

In response, candidate Lee Junseok posted on his social media that "the basic fare for metropolitan subway will increase by 150 won. This is the result of indiscriminate and unfair welfare policies." He pointed out that "although free rides for the elderly appear to be preferential treatment for seniors, the benefit is concentrated among some elderly residents near subway stations, which clearly discriminates against seniors living in Samcheok, Gangwon, Boseong, Jeonnam, and Okcheon, Chungbuk."

Lee continued, "We have argued that providing transportation vouchers to all seniors aged 65 and over nationwide is much fairer." He questioned, "How does proposing to reduce the cumulative deficits of public corporations and secure resources for future generations equate to divisiveness or rudeness?" He went on to say, "To make matters worse, there is now a People Power Party presidential contender proposing to expand free rides to buses as well. This is why the conservative camp has ended up in such a state." He emphasized, "Irresponsible giveaway pledges are already a headache with just one member of the Democratic Party whose only political philosophy is a '250,000 won' handout." In conclusion, he added, "Politicians' impoverished philosophies must not be allowed to impoverish the future of our children."