Politics · South Korea · 2 days ago
Less than a quarter of donated rail miles used to support travel
South Korea’s national railway, Korail, has a program called Love Points that uses donated customer reward miles to help disadvantaged people pay for train journeys.
From 2023 through August 2026, the fund received 37.2 million won, but only 8.3 million won was used, or 22.4%.
A separate set of figures covering 2023 to 2025 also showed that less than a quarter of the donated miles was spent.
The support is provided when organizations or people request help with train fares, and the program is run by the Korea Volunteer Center.
Lawmaker Yeom Tae-young said limited publicity may be one reason the funds are not being used more.
Korail members also lost 36.87 billion won worth of reward miles to expiry from 2022 through June 2026.
Yeom called for clearer notices about expiring miles, an easier way to donate with customers’ consent, and efforts to find more people and organizations needing support.
Less than a quarter of donated Korail rail miles intended to support trips for people in need had been used, according to figures submitted to lawmaker Yeom Tae-young.
Donga Ilbo reported that 8.324 million won, or 22.4%, of 37.195 million won in Love Points collected from 2023 through August 2026 had been used.
Yonhap reported a different period and total: 7.477 million won, or 22.8%, of 32.76 million won collected from 2023 to 2025.
The donated miles are used to help pay train fares for trips by people in need, and the scheme is operated by the Korea Council of Volunteer Organizations.
Miles worth 36.87 billion won expired between 2022 and June 2026 without being donated to the scheme, Yeom said.
- Who
- Korail rail members donate miles, and people in need are intended to benefit. Lawmaker Yeom Tae-young disclosed the figures.
- What
- Less than a quarter of donated miles intended to support train trips had been used.
- When
- The reported figures cover 2023 through August 2026 in Donga Ilbo, and 2023–2025 in Yonhap.
- Where
- South Korea; the scheme supports train travel.
- Why
- Donga Ilbo said limited publicity appeared to be the main reason for low use.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We should consider informing users about miles set to expire and how to donate Love Points, while making it easy to donate with users’ consent.
We should actively identify institutions and people who need Love Point support.
Korail members’ miles worth 36.87 billion won expired after their five-year validity period, Yeom said.
Yonhap reported that 32.76 million won in Love Points were collected, of which 7.477 million won was used.
Donga Ilbo reported that 37.195 million won in Love Points were collected, of which 8.324 million won was used.
Yonhap and Donga Ilbo reported Yeom’s figures and calls to improve use of the donated miles.
- Love Points collected, 2023–August 2026
- 37.195 million won
- Love Points used, 2023–August 2026
- 8.324 million won (22.4%)
- Love Points collected, 2023–2025
- 32.76 million won
- Love Points used, 2023–2025
- 7.477 million won (22.8%)
- Expired miles, 2022–June 2026
- 36.87 billion won
Sources
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