Seoul to offer Climate Cards for tourists in July

Tourists will be able to use Seoul’s Climate Cards during their stay in the capital starting in July.

Foreign tourists take photos near Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on May 1. [YONHAP]

Tourists will be able to use Seoul’s Climate Cards during their stay in the capital starting in July.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Thursday that the capital’s unlimited monthly transit pass will be offered in shorter period versions for travelers.

The passes will now include one-day, two-day, three-day and five-day options, allowing users to take unlimited bus and subway rides in Seoul during the period. A day pass will cost 5,000 won ($3.70), a two-day pass 8,000 won, a three-day pass 10,000 won and a five-day pass 15,000 won.

The total cost of the card will be the selected duration option plus the cost of the physical card, which is 3,000 won.

Foreign tourists can purchase physical cards at information centers found along subway lines No. 1 through 8, Seoul Tourism Plaza, Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center in central Seoul and convenience stores near subway stations.

A person passes through the subway turnstiles at the platform at Gwanghwamun Station in central Seoul on April 15, with a banner advertising the Climate Card unlimited public transportation pass displayed nearby. [YONHAP]

Previous users of the Climate Card can also switch to the short-term option.

The short-term Climate Card can be topped up like the standard Climate Card at ticket vending machines along subway lines No. 1 through 9, Sillim Line and Ui-Sinseol Line.

Tourists will only be able to use the pass as a physical card, as mobile versions are only available to those with a resident registration number, or foreign resident registration number, and debit or credit cards issued by Korean banks.

Holders of the short-period passes will also receive the same benefits as those who chose the monthly scheme, such as discounts on entrance fees to Seoul Science Center, Seoul Museum of Art and Seoul Grand Park.

The Mpass, one of the transportation passes available to foreign travelers, is similar to the new tourist option of the Climate Card, as it offers up to 20 subway and bus rides in the greater Seoul area. The card is available in seven options, covering periods from a day up to a week. However, the Mpass is more expensive, as a day pass costs 15,000 won.

The Climate Card, which is undergoing a pilot period through June, has been gaining popularity since its launch in late January. Nearly 1.25 million passes have been sold as of May 2, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The card will also be released in two new designs, one of which features the capital’s mascot Hechi, in July when the project officially launches.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]