Pilot Project Ends... Main Project Starts July 1 Reflecting Citizens' Opinions
Average Monthly Savings of 30,000 KRW per Person... Increased Outdoor Activities and Consumer Spending
Short-Term Pass for 1-7 Days Launched, Additional Discounts for Youth, Expanded Discounts at Cultural Facilities
Oh Se-hoon: "Climate Companion Card Will Become a Source of Pride for Seoul Citizens"
Seoul's unlimited public transportation pass 'Climate Companion Card,' which sold 1 million units within 70 days of its launch, is moving from its pilot phase to official operation. Additional youth discounts and short-term passes will be separately released, and a postpaid card will be introduced in the second half of the year. Seoul City plans to further expand the benefits by reflecting citizens' opinions.
On the morning of the 26th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated at Seoul City Hall, "We are preparing to start the full-scale Climate Companion Card project on July 1," adding, "We will prove that the true climate companionship is not about past regulation-focused policies such as congestion charges, but about citizens experiencing the convenience, affordability, and comfort of public transportation and voluntarily reducing usage to respond to the climate crisis."
The Climate Companion Card is a public transportation pass introduced by Seoul City to address the climate crisis and alleviate citizens' transportation costs. Users can use Seoul's subways, buses, and public bicycles called 'Ddareungi' unlimitedly within the city for a monthly fee of 65,000 KRW (62,000 KRW excluding Ddareungi). Thanks to these advantages, cumulative sales reached 1 million units within 70 days of implementation. The total cumulative sales have reached 1.6 million units, with an average of 540,000 weekday users.
The benefits for citizens have also been proven. An analysis of Climate Companion Card usage data from its launch on January 27 through May showed that each user saved about 30,000 KRW per month on transportation costs. A survey conducted by the Seoul Institute targeting 2,090 Climate Companion Card users found that 68% of respondents increased their external activities by about 1.3 times per week after using the card, with increased spending on dining out, shopping, and bank savings in that order. Seoul City estimates the resulting production inducement effect to be approximately 80.2 billion KRW.
The usage area, which had caused inconvenience to metropolitan area citizens, has also steadily expanded. At the end of last year, Seoul City signed an agreement with Gimpo City and expanded the usage area to the entire 'Gimpo Gold Line' starting March 30. Seoul is currently in close discussions with additional neighboring local governments. It is expected that usage will expand to Goyang City around November. Yoon Jong-jang, Director of Seoul City's Urban Transportation Office, explained, "We expect that the Goyang City Line 3 will be available in November this year," adding, "We are also pushing to include the Gyeongui-Jungang Line."
Additionally, the payment methods, which were initially limited to cash (physical card) and bank transfer (mobile card) during the pilot phase, were diversified from April by replacing charging terminals, improving the app system, and consulting with related agencies to allow payment via 'credit and debit cards.'
Benefits under the full-scale project will also be enhanced. From July 1, a 'Youth Pass' with a 7,000 KRW discount will be available for youths aged 19 to 39. Until now, Seoul City provided youth discounts but required a retroactive refund application after purchase. Going forward, users must verify their identity every six months to recharge the Youth Pass, and physical card users must register in advance on the T-money Card & Pay website to select the discount option.
The types of passes will also diversify, including short-term passes (1?7 days). Short-term passes for foreign tourists and visitors to Seoul will include new options such as ▲1-day pass (5,000 KRW) ▲2-day pass (8,000 KRW) ▲3-day pass (10,000 KRW) ▲5-day pass (15,000 KRW) ▲7-day pass (20,000 KRW).
Notably, from November, a postpaid Climate Companion Card with combined debit and credit card payment functions will be launched. For example, if a user applies for the 65,000 KRW pass with the postpaid card and uses public transportation less than the pass value (e.g., 50,000 KRW) in a month, only the used amount will be billed postpaid. If usage exceeds 65,000 KRW and reaches 100,000 KRW, the user will be charged only 65,000 KRW, and the remaining amount will be compensated by local governments or other entities.
Moreover, cultural facility discounts will become more abundant. In addition to existing discounts at places like the Seoul Science Museum, from July, admission to Seoul Grand Park and Seoul Botanic Park will be available at a 50% discounted rate.
Regarding the ongoing issue of fraudulent use such as 'sharing cards,' the city explained that tracking investigations are underway. Director Yoon said, "We are closely monitoring high-usage users," noting, "About 30 people have used more than 300,000 KRW per month over the past five months." After analyzing and investigating whether their travel patterns are habitual, if fraudulent use is confirmed, the city plans to impose the maximum penalties allowed by law and regulations.
However, he also expressed that sharing among family members should not be viewed negatively. Director Yoon stated, "If a family member borrows my card to use public transportation instead of a private car when going out, that aligns with the policy goal of climate response," adding, "Whether that should be cut off as fraudulent use requires a diverse perspective."
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