Journal of the Korean Geographical Society ISSN:1225-6633(Print) 대한지리학회지

Mobility of elderly people is an important issue in Korea (ROK) where the aging process of the population is so rapid. This paper aims to examine the unique characteristics of elderly travel behavior in comparison to younger people and the changes in such characteristics given that Korea (ROK) has the world’s fastest aging population. To this end, the paper analyzes two recent large scale survey data sets, each including more than a quarter of a million individuals’ travel diaries in metropolitan Seoul, collected in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The analysis found that elderly travel differs greatly from younger people’s in many aspects, and the mobility of the elderly, particularly those aged 65 to 69, has increased a great deal. Recent reforms of public transportation systems in the city could contribute to the increase in elderly mobility.