Seoul plans to launch short-term “tourism passes” for its Climate-Friendly Card unlimited public transit system in July. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Aimed at attracting visitors, Seoul plans to launch short-term “tourism passes” for its Climate-Friendly Card unlimited public transit system in July, providing tailored services for domestic and international tourists.
The city will offer one, two, three, five and seven-day passes, allowing travelers visiting Seoul for brief periods to take advantage of the unlimited ride benefits of the Climate-Friendly Card.
Currently, foreign tourists in Seoul must purchase and load a T-money card to access public transportation. While one-time subway cards exist, they require cash payment and the inconvenience of retrieving the deposit after use.
The T-money card for foreigners, providing near-unlimited access to transit across the greater Seoul region for a set period, costs 15,000 won for a one-day pass but can only be purchased with cash.
With critics noting the lack of short-term unlimited transit passes tailored for tourists’ needs, Seoul has studied examples from other nations with developed systems to prepare the tourism pass launch.
The goal is to alleviate the hassle of T-money card reloading while lowering public transit costs as an incentive for visitors to explore the city.
During a recent trip to Dubai, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon mentioned, “We plan to soon introduce the Climate-Friendly Card for foreign tourists. Doesn’t that make you want to visit Seoul?”
The Climate-Friendly Card for foreign tourists (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
A city official stated, “We’ll supply the passes at prices perceived as affordable from the perspective of transit users,” adding, “We’re preparing a convenient method for foreign tourists to utilize.”
The expected price for a five-day tourism pass is around 20,000 won, compared to the current 62,000 won monthly regular Climate-Friendly Card fee, excluding bike-sharing services.
Additionally, two new Climate-Friendly Card designs featuring cute characters like the city’s mascot Hechi will launch in July, targeting demand from teenagers and young adults.
Starting in October, a Climate-Friendly Card version allowing access to the upcoming Han River Riverbus service, connecting major Seoul destinations along the Han River, is also planned for release.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
