Gwacheon is latest to join Seoul's Climate Card scheme

Gwacheon is the fourth locality outside the capital to join the transit scheme, following Incheon, Gimpo and Gupo in Gyeonggi.

Commuters pass through subway turnstiles at the platform of City Hall Station in downtown Seoul, next to a banner guiding how to use the Climate Card on Monday. [NEWS1]

Seoul’s unlimited transit pass will be expanded to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, covering the locality just south of the capital.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong on Wednesday signed an agreement to extend transportation routes covered by the Climate Card to Gwacheon.

Gwacheon is the fourth locality outside the capital to join the transit scheme, following Incheon, Gimpo and Gunpo in Gyeonggi.

“Discussion of extending the Climate Card to the southern areas of Gyeonggi has kicked off following Gwacheon’s participation,” Oh said.

Gwacheon serves as a bridge between the capital and the southern region of Gyeonggi.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, right, and Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong sign an agreement to expand the Climate Card scheme to the southern Gyeonggi city at City Hall in downtown Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, around 20,000 people use public transportation in Gwacheon daily, and more than half commute between the city and the capital.

Five subway stations along subway line No. 4 in Gwacheon — Seonbwai, Seoul Racecourse Park, Seoul Grand Park, Gwacheon and Government Complex Gwacheon Stations — are expected to be covered by the pass.

The city government plans to discuss the scheme with Korail, the state-run train operator that manages the five subway stations.

Six routes of intercity and village buses that travel between Seoul and Gwacheon were already covered by the pass as the Climate Card launched on Jan. 27.

The Climate Card currently covers subways and city buses in the capital, excluding the Shinbundang Line and intercity buses connecting Seoul and adjacent Gyeonggi and Incheon.

Commuters must pay additional fees if they get off at bus stops or subway stations outside of these areas. No extra fees will be required when getting off at some areas outside of the capital, including subway stations along the Gimpo Goldline and parts of lines No. 4, 5 and 7.

Gunpo, another city in southern Gyeonggi, joined the scheme last week.

Seven stations along subway lines No. 1 and 4, including Geumjeong, Gunpo and Sanbon Station, in Gumpo are expected to be covered by the pass.

Due to soaring demand, the city will supply an additional 150,000 Climate Cards from Wednesday through Feb. 22.

Around 330,000 passes have been sold since the passes went on sale on Jan. 23.

Physical versions of the transit pass can be purchased for 3,000 won ($2.20) in cash from information centers set along subway lines No. 2 to 8 in the capital.

Along subway line No. 1, the cards will be sold between Seoul Station in downtown Seoul and Cheongnyangni Station in eastern Seoul.

Users can top up their cards at subway platforms, paying either 62,000 won for unlimited rides on subways and buses or 65,000 won to also use the capital’s public bicycles, or Ttareungi.

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