This photo, provided by the Seoul metropolitan government, shows the Climate Card to be launched on Jan. 27. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul city government said Tuesday it will launch an all-inclusive monthly transit pass service starting next month, offering unlimited access to the city’s subway and buses at a fixed price of 62,000 won (US$47.36).
The Climate Card, set to debut on Jan. 27, will be the first in the country to offer an eco-friendly transit pass in line with climate change and to adapt to the change in the traffic environment, city officials said.
The city had previously planned to kick-start the pilot program on Jan. 1 but postponed the schedule following a delay in the application of the system on routes run by Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), which operates 20 percent of the city’s subway lines.
The rechargeable transit pass will be available for use on all subway lines in Seoul, including Line 1 to Line 9, and the Gyeongui-Jungang and Bundang Lines, except the Shinbundang Line connecting southern Seoul to Gwanggyo, south of Seoul, which has a higher fare system.
It will also be available for use on intracity buses and other buses with shorter routes inside the city.
A city official said they are working on adding night buses, which have higher fares, in the pilot program from Jan. 27 to June 30.
The transit pass will be available in two rate systems depending on whether the user wants access to the city’s Ddareungi bicycle-sharing service at an extra cost of 3,000 won.
The city plans to diversify its rate systems by adding more transit options in the future.
The Climate Card will be available for purchase beginning on Jan. 23 in the form of a plastic card or via a mobile app. Users can charge money into the card and use it within five days of purchase.
Meanwhile, the city has reached an agreement with the Incheon and Gimpo cities in expanding the service to encompass the greater Seoul area, and plans to launch the expanded service from April.
“The Climate Card will not only cut transportation fees, but also resolve generational tasks of the times by responding to climate change and transforming transit demand,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said.
“We will continue to improve the service to provide convenient transportation to all citizens in the greater Seoul area,” he said.
(Yonhap)
