Foreigners and elderly individuals in South Korea are experiencing challenges with the evolving payment systems for public transportation. These difficulties stem from a lack of resources to adopt alternatives to cash, such as account transfers or card payments, or simply from being unfamiliar with these methods.
Pham Huy, 38, who recently moved to Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, from Vietnam to support his family, encountered a hurdle while trying to navigate Seoul during the Lunar New Year holiday. Bus drivers refused him entry due to insufficient cash, while taxi drivers only accepted non-cash payments due to a lack of change. Huy explained, “Using public transportation is especially challenging for me because I rely on a low-cost mobile data plan, making account transfers and authentication difficult due to my nationality.”
Amália Pisano, 31, a tourist in Seoul, mentioned facing recurring inconveniences due to the unavailability of Uber and difficulties in communication with drivers. She said, “I have to rely on assistance from Korean friends when getting around the city.”
Elderly individuals unfamiliar with smartphone technology find themselves in a similar situation. Park, 68, who recently bought a disposable transportation card with the help of his children, said, “Living without the aid of young people is challenging in today’s society.”
In efforts to modernize public transportation, Seoul is removing cashboxes from city buses. According to city officials, the number of ‘cashless buses’ operating in Seoul increased significantly from 18 routes with 436 buses to 108 routes with 1,876 buses as of January last year. This means that one out of every four buses in Seoul no longer accepts cash payments.
Experts emphasize the importance of considering alternatives for foreigners or digitally vulnerable populations who rely solely on cash, while expanding cashless buses in society. Yu Jeong-whon, a professor of Transportation Systems Engineering at Ajou University, suggested activating promotions for disposable transportation cards at convenience stores near bus stops and introducing post-payment systems.
