An analysis has shown that as the Seoul Metropolitan Government raised sewage fees and abolished the progressive pricing system previously applied to residential use, the financial burden has significantly increased for consumers with low sewage usage.

The Price Monitoring Center of the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations released the results of its analysis on the changes in fee burdens before and after the sewage fee revision today (October 13).

Seoul plans to raise sewage fees by an annual average of 9.5 percent over five years from 2026 to 2030.

The progressive pricing system that had been applied to residential sewage fees has been abolished.

According to the analysis, a consumer discharging 30 cubic meters of residential sewage paid 12,000 won before the increase (based on 2025), but will have to pay 14,400 won in 2026, a 20 percent hike.

By 2030, the payment will rise to 23,100 won, representing a 92.5 percent increase compared to the fee before the hike.

Most households have a usage volume of 30 cubic meters or less.

A user who discharged 50 cubic meters of residential sewage and paid 30,600 won based on last year's standards will see their fee drop to 24,000 won in 2026 before increasing again to reach 38,500 won in 2030.

This amounts to a 25.8 percent increase compared to before the hike.

While fees will increase overall, the abolition of the progressive pricing system has resulted in a temporary reduction effect.

A consumer discharging 70 cubic meters will see their fee decrease from 59,000 won before the hike to 33,600 won in 2026, before rising to 53,900 won in 2030.

In effect, a reversal phenomenon occurs where the fee to be paid actually decreases compared to before the increase due to the abolition of the progressive system.

There was also a wide gap in the average unit price of sewage fees among local governments nationwide.

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations stated, "The majority of consumers will face a heavier burden from the sewage fee hike than before," adding, "A public utility fee system and roadmap that consumers can understand must be shared."