Credit Card Recharge for Transportation Cards Now Available at Seoul Subway Stations

Credit Card and Smartphone Payments Now Accepted at Kiosks
Pilot Program Launches at 25 Major Subway Stations Starting September 6

Transportation card kiosks, which previously only accepted cash payments, will now allow credit card and smartphone payments. Single-use tickets, commuter passes, and Climate Companion Card recharges, as well as the purchase of physical cards, can all be paid for with credit cards.

On September 2, Seoul Metro announced that starting September 6, it will begin a pilot program introducing new transportation card kiosks at 25 major subway stations. Following this, 440 new kiosks will be sequentially installed at 273 stations on subway lines 1 through 8 by the end of the year. Simple payment options such as KakaoPay, Naver Pay, and Toss Pay will also be gradually introduced by the end of the year.

A new type of transportation card kiosk to be operated at Seoul subway stations. Provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government

The pilot stations include: (Line 1) City Hall Station, Jongno 5-ga Station; (Line 2) Ttukseom Station, Jamsilnaru Station, Sports Complex Station, Seolleung Station, Sadang Station, Seoul National University Station, Daerim Station; (Line 3) Gyeongbokgung Station, Oksu Station, Express Bus Terminal Station, Suseo Station; (Line 4) Ssangmun Station, Suyu Station, Mia Sageori Station, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Seoul Station; (Line 5) Gimpo Airport Station, Hwagok Station, Gangdong Station; (Line 6) Itaewon Station; (Line 7) Dobongsan Station, Konkuk University Station; and (Line 8) Cheonho Station.

This is the first major upgrade to the kiosks in 16 years, since the introduction in 2009 of machines that allowed the purchase and recharge of single-use transportation cards with cash. Seoul Metro decided to introduce the new kiosks to enhance user convenience, as credit card and smartphone payments have become commonplace.

With the new kiosks, users can now recharge single-use tickets, commuter passes, and Climate Companion Cards with credit cards. Prepaid cards, however, can still only be recharged with cash, as before. The new kiosks also allow users to purchase physical cards (Climate Companion Card, prepaid card, commuter pass), change prepaid card types, and process refunds for single-use tickets and commuter passes.

Additionally, the new kiosks have improved accessibility and convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups by reflecting the standards for installation and operation of unmanned information terminals under the Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. The user interface and controls are set at a height of 1,200 mm or less from the floor, and features such as a lower screen for easier access, a braille keypad, and a headphone jack have been added.

Ma Haekeun, Head of the Sales Division at Seoul Metro, stated, "We decided to introduce the new transportation card kiosks to address the inconvenience of carrying cash and to improve accessibility for transportation-vulnerable groups. We will continue to do our best to create a safe and convenient subway environment by pursuing innovations that meet the expectations of our citizens."