Seoul, South Korea – Commuters in the Seoul metropolitan area may have to wait a bit longer for the planned subway fare hike. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced on Tuesday that the fare increase, originally slated for March, is likely to be delayed by one to two months.

The delay stems from a setback in the approval process by the Gyeonggi Provincial Council. The council, which needs to sign off on the fare increase plan due to its involvement with the broader metropolitan area, failed to pass the relevant bill during its recent session.

"There has been a setback," Mayor Oh explained during a city council meeting. "We have been informed that there is a possibility of a delay of one or two months."

This would have been the second phase of a fare hike. The first phase, which raised fares by 150 won, was implemented in October 2023. This second phase would also increase fares by 150 won, bringing the total increase to 300 won.

Mayor Oh also addressed concerns about the financial burden of the Climate Companion Card, which offers unlimited public transportation use for a fixed price. He acknowledged that the card has resulted in substantial losses for the Seoul Transportation Corporation, estimated at around 180 billion won annually. However, he stressed the importance of prioritizing affordable transportation access for citizens.

"We believe that at least the issue of transportation costs should be addressed from a welfare perspective," Mayor Oh said. "We are heartbroken about the losses, but we must maintain a position that is distinct from other policies."

While the exact timing of the fare increase remains uncertain, Mayor Oh assured commuters that the city government is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.