Climate Companion Card to Launch on 27th Next Month... Card Sales Begin on 23rd

Two Price Types Based on Ddareungi Usage
Physical Cards Used for iOS-Based Smartphones

Seoul's unlimited public transportation pass, the 'Climate Companion Card,' will make its debut on the 27th of next month. Originally scheduled to be implemented on January 1, the schedule was slightly delayed due to integration processes with Korail, which operates some sections of Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is briefing at the press conference for the introduction and implementation of the Climate Companion Card held at the Seoul City Hall briefing room on September 11. Photo by Yonhap News

Implementation from the 27th of next month... Korail sections also participating

On the 19th, the city announced that it will launch the eco-friendly transportation pass, Climate Companion Card, tailored to climate and transportation environmental changes, nationwide for the first time next month.

The Climate Companion Card is a monthly pass that allows unlimited use of public transportation within Seoul by charging 65,000 KRW per month. The city aimed to start the pilot project on January 1 of the new year, but Korail conveyed that participation in the pilot project would be possible from the 27th of the same month to ensure stable system operation, causing the schedule to be postponed. Korail operates some sections of Line 1 within Seoul, the Suin-Bundang Line, the Gyeongchun Line, and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

Accordingly, from the start of the project, unlimited use will be possible on all subway lines within Seoul, including Lines 1 to 9, the Sillim Line, the Ui-Sinseol Line, the Suin-Bundang Line, the Gyeongchun Line, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and the Airport Railroad from Seoul to Gimpo Airport. However, the Shinbundang Line is excluded due to its different fare system, even within the Seoul section.

For buses, unlimited use is available on all Seoul-licensed city and village buses. However, metropolitan buses and late-night buses licensed in other cities or provinces such as Gyeonggi and Incheon, which have different fare systems, are not included.

During the pilot project period, two types of passes will be issued, priced at 62,000 KRW and 65,000 KRW, depending on whether the user utilizes the Ddareungi bike-sharing service.

Mobile card download and physical card sales start from the 23rd of next month

Starting five days before the pilot project launch, on the 23rd of next month, mobile card downloads and physical card sales services will officially begin. Mobile cards can be used by downloading the Mobile T-money app for free on Android smartphones, transferring the monthly usage fee via bank transfer, and designating the usage date within five days. However, since iOS-based smartphones do not yet support mobile transportation card functionality, physical cards must be used.

The city plans to allow mobile card charging via credit card during the pilot period and is considering integrating the Climate Companion Card into postpaid transportation cards, which are widely used by citizens, in the full-scale project starting in July.

Physical cards will be sold for 3,000 KRW in cash at the Customer Safety Office within stations of Seoul Metro Lines 1 to 8. The first batch of 100,000 cards has been produced and is being prepared for distribution. Additionally, the city is recruiting sales outlets to enable purchase at convenience stores within Seoul. After purchasing a physical card, users can recharge it with cash at unmanned transportation card charging machines in stations and designate the usage date within five days before use.

Meanwhile, Seoul signed a participation agreement for metropolitan bus Climate Companion Card use with Incheon City on the 17th of last month, and on the 7th of this month, also signed an agreement with Gimpo City for participation of the Gimpo Gold Line and Gimpo metropolitan buses. Accordingly, detailed practical discussions such as sharing transportation loss costs and system changes are underway with Incheon and Gimpo to apply the card during the pilot period next year. The city plans to actively consult with other local governments wishing to participate in the Climate Companion Card during the pilot period to continuously expand the usage scope.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, “The Climate Companion Card applies the concept of 'unlimited public transportation use' on a single card and is expected to establish itself as a system leading innovation in Korea’s transportation sector once again after the metropolitan integrated transfer system.” He added, “It will not only reduce transportation costs but also continuously improve the system and services to address urgent issues such as climate crisis response and transportation demand shift, providing transportation benefits to all citizens in Seoul and the metropolitan area.”