<Anchor>
This year, the number of subway passengers has decreased than usual as people are reluctant to go outside because of Corona 19.
So, Seoul Subway Line 9 suffered a lot of deficit, and when the Seoul Metropolitan Government tried to cover it with taxes, the city council opposed it.
Reporter Lim Tae-woo reported alone
<Reporter>
Subway Line 9 is particularly crowded during rush hour across Seoul from east to west.
This year, the number of passengers decreased by about 20% due to the aftermath of Corona 19.
Then, the city of Seoul recently issued a supplementary bill saying that it would conserve 100% of the deficit for one year with tax of 13.5 billion won.
I heard it based on the agreement made by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with the operator of Line 9, but the city council put a brake on it.
The agreement says that when a deficit occurs due to'non-political force majeure reasons', it is required to conserve only 80%, not the entire amount, and Corona is the case.
[Song A-Ryang/Seoul City Council Member: It is a problem that the citizens' blood tax, which provided 100% support to private businesses, is a problem.] The
city of Seoul, which is pushing for a chronic deficit and even raising subway and bus fares, has not carefully examined the terms of the agreement. It is said that it almost cost 2.7 billion won in tax.
Later, as a result of the Seoul Metropolitan Government seeking legal advice, it was concluded that the criticism of the city council was valid.
[Seoul City official: I have never thought about this because I don't know that there may be an force majeure situation called'corona'.]
The operator of Line 9 is strongly opposed.
It was decided to give up the right to decide the rate and to compensate for the excess income, but it is unfair to take the losses caused by the corona.
[Operator of Line 9: (Even if the number of passengers decreases), it is running 100% the same, right?
It means that the cost of electricity, labor, etc. went into the same amount here.] The
difference between the two sides
is
so large that the issue of cost preservation will eventually lead to court battles.
(Video editing: Seungjin Lee, VJ: Hyungjin Kim)