Seoul Transportation Card: A Guide for Foreigners (feat. the Climate Companion Card)

If you are a foreign student or a long-term resident staying in Seoul, the daily transportation costs can be a significant burden. A Seoul transportation card can help you save money and make traveling easier. In particular, the Climate Companion Card, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, allows you to use public transportation more affordably and conveniently.

What is a Seoul Transportation Card: The Climate Companion Card?

What is the Climate Companion Card?

The Climate Companion Card is an all-in-one transportation pass for Seoul. It's a card that allows unlimited rides on the city’s buses and subways for a fixed fee. It helps reduce daily commuting costs and eliminates the need to constantly recharge a transportation card. While originally only available as a 30-day pass, a short-term pass was released in July 2024.

30-Day Pass: This is a regular 30-day pass for Seoul citizens or long-term residents. Once purchased, you cannot change the start date or the card type before the usage period expires.

Short-Term Pass: Available for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days. Ideal for international tourists or short-term visitors who want to purchase it for an exact duration. It’s more efficient because you can purchase it for the exact duration you need.

Both passes are very useful for saving on transportation costs and avoiding the hassle of having to top up your card every time. A major advantage is that no separate documents or a Korean mobile phone number are required to buy one, making it easy to purchase at any time.

However, the Climate Companion Card can only be used within Seoul. It is not valid on buses or subways in Gyeonggi-do, nor on the Sinbundang Line or the Incheon subway.

Seoul Transportation Card: Benefits of the Climate Companion Card

Detailed guide to the main benefits of the Climate Companion Card

Both the 30-day and short-term passes offer three key benefits.

Unlimited Subway Rides: You can use almost all Seoul subway lines with no limit on the number of trips.Unlimited Bus Rides: You can ride all city buses in Seoul (including local village buses) without any limits.For a small additional fee, you can enjoy unlimited rides on Seoul’s public bicycles, “Ttareungi.” This is especially convenient for short trips or sightseeing along the Han River.

Thanks to these benefits, you can reduce your monthly public transportation expenses from a typical 100,000 won to just 65,000 won. This results in a saving of at least 35,000 won in transportation costs.

In addition, when you purchase the short-term (tourist) pass, you can receive extra discounts at cultural and performance venues in Seoul. As of now, this includes a 50% discount on admission to the Seoul Museum of Science and Seoul Grand Park. These benefits may change according to policy, so it is recommended to confirm them again when you purchase the card.

Methods for Getting a Seoul Transportation Card (feat. the Climate Companion Card)

Seoul Transportation Card:How to Get a Physical Card (feat. the Climate Companion Card)

So how can you get the Climate Companion Card to save on transportation costs?

The simplest and most common method is to get a physical card offline. You can easily purchase both the short-term (Climate Companion Card Tourist Pass) and fixed-term passes on-site.

Issuance Procedure

Card Purchase: Purchase the physical card at the customer safety office in Seoul Metro stations (Lines 1-8) or at convenience stores near the stations.Card Top-up: Use an unmanned kiosk inside a subway station to top up the card with cash, selecting your desired duration (e.g., 1 or 2 days).

The only thing you need for the purchase and top-up is cash. In other words, you can easily buy the card without any separate documents or ID.

➕ Issuance Tip: While some machines may accept credit card payments, it’s best to have cash on hand just in case.

Seoul Transportation Card:Mobile Card Issuance (feat. the Climate Companion Card)

The Climate Companion Card service is not currently supported on iOS (iPhone), so mobile card issuance is only available on Android devices.

Issuance Procedure

App Download: Download the 'Mobile T-money' app from the Google Play Store.Sign Up: Complete the membership registration within the app.Card Issuance: In the app, select the 'Issue Climate Companion Card' menu, choose your desired pass (30-day or short-term), and complete the payment to finish the issuance process.

No separate documents or ID are needed for registration and issuance, but you will need a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank transfer) that can be used within the app. The refund policy can be complex, so it is recommended to review it before purchasing or using the card.

🔍 Learn about the Climate Companion Card (T-money) Refund Policy

Today, we learned about the Climate Companion Card, which allows for very convenient and economical use of public transportation in Seoul. If you’re looking to cut down on high monthly transportation costs, the Climate Companion Card is definitely worth trying.