South Korea faces significant challenges in maintaining its current senior welfare policies, particularly free subway rides for senior citizens. Current policies not only threaten the country’s fiscal sustainability but also raise questions about the nation’s ability to cope with a rapidly aging population.

As the elderly population continues to grow and the birth rate remains low, policymakers are confronting questions about how to address these risks and consider alternative solutions to ensure the long-term viability of senior welfare programs.

Lee Jun-seok, the former leader of the New Reform Party (NRP), brought these issues to the forefront earlier this year when