Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) announced on August 5 that starting from the first train on August 9, the 'Climate Companion Card' will be available for use on the Hanam section of Subway Line 5 (Misa Station, Hanam Pungsan Station, Hanam City Hall Station, Hanam Geomdansan Station).
Previously, passengers could only disembark within the Hanam section, but with this expansion, boarding is now also permitted. As a result, Hanam residents can now enjoy the benefit of unlimited use of Seoul's public transportation.
The 'Climate Companion Card' is an integrated transportation season ticket that allows unlimited use of certain subway lines in the metropolitan area, Seoul-licensed city and village buses, and the public bicycle service Ddareungi for a fixed period after paying a set fee. This system was introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to address the climate crisis and promote public transportation. Hanam City joined the program through a business agreement with Seoul in February, and with this implementation, Hanam, one of the major cities in southeastern Seoul, has been officially included in the applicable area.
The Climate Companion Card is already accepted on seven Seoul-licensed city bus routes (342, 3217, 3316, 3318, 3323, 3324, 3413) passing through Hanam. With the addition of boarding and disembarking at the four stations on the Hanam section of Subway Line 5, the card's utility is expected to increase further. Currently, the Climate Companion Card can also be used on certain subway sections in other areas that have agreements with Seoul, such as Goyang, Gwacheon, Gimpo, Namyangju, Guri, and Seongnam.
The monthly fee is 65,000 won (including Ddareungi) or 62,000 won (excluding Ddareungi), and young adults aged 19 to 39 can receive a 7,000 won discount on each option. In addition, short-term passes (1, 2, 3, 5, and 7-day tickets) are available, ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 won, allowing users to choose flexibly according to their needs.
Android phone users can receive and charge the card for free via the Mobile Tmoney app. Physical cards can be purchased for 3,000 won in cash at customer safety offices in Seoul Metro Line 1 to 8 stations or at convenience stores near Lines 1 to 9, the Sillim Line, and the Ui-Sinseol Line, after which they can be charged and used. In addition, postpaid Climate Companion Cards (credit or debit) that do not require separate charging can also be issued through card companies.
Physical card sales and charging at stations on the Hanam section of Line 5 will be available starting September 13.
Mayor Lee Hyunjae of Hanam City stated, "With Hanam's participation in the Climate Companion Card program, we expect the transportation cost burden for citizens commuting to and from Seoul to decrease," and added, "We will continue to strive to improve transportation convenience for Hanam residents in the future."
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