A day’s companionship with a silver courier
Youngsik Choi, a silver subway delivery worker, enters the ticket gate of Gunpo Station on Subway Line 1 on the 16th.
At 8:30 am on the 16th, an office on the 3rd floor of a building near Euljiro 4-ga Station, Jung-gu, Seoul. Choi Yeong-sik (73), a subway silver courier, entered this place with a banner of “Silver Quick Delivery” on the outer wall of the building. Even though it was early in the morning, 6 or 7 subway couriers were waiting for their work. They are all over the age of 65 and do not pay tolls when riding the subway.
A little after 9 am, Mr. Choi’s order came. It is to receive documents from an office near Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and bring them to the company in Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do.
The items they deliver are diverse, such as documents, flowers, car keys that have been left behind since the early days of infancy, and seals required for contracts. The basic fare is 11,000 won, but the unit price drops to 8,000 to 9,000 won in the same autonomous district. Places like Gyeonggi Suwon, Ilsan, and Incheon, where it takes about half a day to return to work, cost about 20,000 won. 30% of the fare must be paid to the company as a commission.
If you run 3 subway quick delivery
30,800 won profit minus commission
over 65 years of age benefit
Saving 11,900 won on car expenses
When Mr. Choi, who arrived at Hyochang Park Station on subway line 6, stamped his preferential transportation card at the ticket gate, 1,250 won was stamped on the regular transportation card taken by the reporter. Mr. Choi said that he does not take the bus most of the time. Unlike the subway, he has to pay for the ride. In the case of a 10,000 won delivery case, after deducting the 3,000 won fee and the round-trip bus fare of 2,400 won, the remainder is 4,600 won.
I arrived at Gunpo Station on Line 1 through Hyochang Park Station and Yongsan Station. 1,650 won was stamped on the reporter’s transportation card. Mr. Choi delivered the documents and received 16,000 won in cash. Mr. Choi, who came out, reported to the company that “delivery was complete”. Mr. Choi went straight to the company. When he got off at Gunpo Station on Line 1 and got off at Euljiro 4-ga Station on Line 2, 1750 won was stamped on the reporter’s transportation card.
Of the 16,000 won that Mr. Choi earned in the morning, after deducting 30 percent commission, the remaining money is 11,200 won. The reporter spent a total of 4,650 won on transportation while accompanying Mr. Choi. Mr. Choi saved this amount by taking a free ride, and was able to keep a profit of 11,200 won.
At 1:38 p.m., Heo Seong-il (76, pseudonym), who was waiting at the office, went out. The work Mr. Heo received was to receive a geunjogi from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and install it at Eulji Hospital in Nowon-gu, and the fare was 15,000 won. After asking the terminal information desk several times, Mr. When he finishes his day, he walks about 20,000 steps, Heo said. Mr. Heo said, “I work for a full month and earn about 600,000 to 700,000 won.” On this day, Mr. Heo took the subway from Euljiro 4-ga Station on Line 2 to Gangbyeon Station, and from Gangbyeon Station to Hagye Station on Line 7, and from Hagye Station to Euljiro 4-ga Station on Line 2. On the reporter’s transportation card, 1,350 won was printed three times, for a total of 4,050 won. After deducting the commission from the 15,000 won he received after delivering the basic equipment, the remaining money was 10,500 won. If the subway free ride system for the elderly disappears, the money Mr. Heo earns will be reduced to 6,450 won.
The third person the reporter met that day was veteran Baek Nam-gi (85), the ‘best’ subway courier. He has worked as a subway courier since 2009. He said, “I have been working for about 20 days off so far,” and said, “I want to work as long as I have physical strength.” The job Mr. Baek received was to install a geunjogi at the Central Veterans Hospital in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and the fare was 13,000 won. 6 pm. Mr. Baek’s day’s work was over by installing the geunjogi and taking pictures. Baek earned 9,100 won from 13,000 won after deducting a 30 percent commission. He saved 3200 won by free riding.
The three seniors the reporter met that day earned 11,200 won, 10,500 won, and 9,100 won, respectively. The combined unit price of the three courier services is 44,000 won. After deducting the 30 percent commission, we have 30,800 won left. The total subway fare spent by the reporter was 11,900 won. About 40% of daily income was the wages supported by the free ride system for the elderly.