Seoul Metro, the operator of subway line Nos. 1 to 8, will conduct a crackdown on fare evasions until Feb. 2.

The municipal-owned corporation will conduct a special crackdown on all 275 subway stations running on Line Nos. 1 to 8. Considering the trend in the number of passengers using subway stations, the crackdown will involve Seoul Metro stationing its staff and security officers in 30 stations where a high number of fare evasion cases were recorded and where preferential transportation cards were used more than 80 times during rush hour over the past 30 days. Preferential transportation cards are transit passes issued for people aged 65 and above, people with disabilities and war veterans.

According to such standards, a strengthened countdown will be conducted on Seoul and City Hall Stations on Line No. 1; Sindorim, Sillim and Gangnam Stations on Line No. 2; Gwanghwamun Station on Line No. 5; Gasan Digital Complex Station on Line No. 7; and Munjeong Station on Line No. 8.

In 2023, Seoul Metro caught 49,692 fare evasion cases and collected up to 2.25 billion won ($1.67 million) in penalties. The top two stations with the highest number of fare evasion cases in 2023 were Guro Digital Complex Station on Line No. 2 and Apgujeong Station on Line No. 3. Among those caught, “most were passengers in their 20s and 30s who used senior transit passes issued by their parents,” according to a Seoul Metro official.

Additionally, 83 percent of fare evasion cases caught by Seoul Metro last year involved the use of preferential transportation cards, making it the overwhelming majority compared to other cases.

Meanwhile, to prevent cases of fare evasion, Seoul Metro made an initial proposal to the National Assembly to affix the user's photo to preferential transportation cards for older people, people with disabilities and war veterans. It is also looking into the possibility of conducting big data analysis of security camera footage to detect repeated fare evaders.