Climate Card to go into full-fledged operation after successful trial run

The Climate Card, an all-inclusive monthly transit pass, has proven successful during a four-month trial run and will go into full-fledged operation next month with more diverse choices for users, the Seoul city government said Wednesday.

The Climate Card, an all-inclusive monthly transit pass, has proven successful during a four-month trial run and will go into full-fledged operation next month with more diverse choices for users, the Seoul city government said Wednesday.

The card went into service on Jan. 27 on a pilot basis as part of efforts to reduce transportation fees and tackle climate change. It has since positioned itself as one of the city's landmark policies, exceeding the 1 million mark in cumulative sales in just 70 days of its launch, officials said.

An average of 540,000 people used the card daily on weekdays, and the users saved nearly 30,000 won in monthly average costs for their transit fares, according to data collected by the city government as of last month.

A survey conducted on 1,910 users showed 68 percent said their outdoor activities increased by 1.3 times a week after using the pass, and they instead increased their spending on dining out and shopping. This amounted to nearly 80.2 billion won ($57.7 million) in economic effects across all industries over the four months, officials said.

Of the respondents, 37.6 percent said they have taken about 11.8 fewer trips a month.

The transit passes will also be available as daily passes starting from next month. One, two, three, five and seven-day passes will be offered, with prices ranging from 5,000 won for the one-day pass to 20,000 won for the seven-day pass.

Those aged between 19 and 39 can use the Climate Card for a discounted price of 55,000 won, without access to the city's Ttareungi bicycle-sharing service, or pay an extra 3,000 won to get access to the service.

The city will also offer more benefits for users, such as discounts at cultural facilities, including 50 percent off admissions to the Seoul Botanic Park, and 20 percent off a musical show.

The rechargeable pass is available for use on all subway lines in Seoul, including lines No. 1 through to No. 9, and the Gyeongui-Jungang and Bundang Lines, except the Shinbundang Line connecting southern Seoul to Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi, which has a higher fare system. Users can also access the Gimpo Goldline with this pass.

The city plans to continue discussing with nearby counties and cities to expand the range of the transit pass and launch a deferred payment option with check and credit card functions later this year.

Yonhap