Seoul Prepares to Launch 'Climate Companion Pass'… Benefits Applied Automatically

Climate Companion Card to Be Expanded as Climate Companion Pass Next Month

Customized Notification Messages and Public Transport Announcements by Age Group

Support for the Digitally Disadvantaged and Card Exchange Events

Seoul's flagship policy brand, the Climate Companion Card, will be expanded and operated as the Climate Companion Pass (Everyone’s Card) from next month. This integrated service will combine nationwide public transportation reimbursement benefits with an extension of the age eligibility for youth discounts.

In line with this, on August 12, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would launch a campaign to promote advance conversion to the Climate Companion Pass. This is aimed at encouraging existing Climate Companion Card users to switch in advance so that their transportation cost subsidy benefits are not interrupted, and to minimize any inconvenience to citizens resulting from the policy change.

After the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in June that it would integrate its public transportation cost subsidy programs, the number of users of the Climate Companion Card has been declining. As of June 29, there were approximately 900,000 users of the 30-day pass, but as of August 10—just 40 days later—this had dropped by 40.9% to 530,000 users.

To minimize inconvenience to citizens and avoid gaps in public transportation cost support during the transition to the Climate Companion Pass, Seoul will extend the existing Climate Companion Card program by one month. Accordingly, users can recharge the 30-day Climate Companion Card until August 31, and the cards recharged by this deadline can be used until September 29 at the latest.

Postpaid Climate Companion Cards can be used until September 30. However, as of October 1, these will change to ordinary transportation cards with no public transportation subsidy benefits. Therefore, postpaid Climate Companion Card users must also switch to the Climate Companion Pass in order to continue receiving benefits such as transportation cost reimbursements.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is carrying out a wide-ranging publicity campaign using various media to ensure that citizens who have been using the Climate Companion Card fully understand the need to switch to the Climate Companion Pass. In particular, the city is providing information directly within citizens' daily routes by posting notices and making announcements on buses and subways, and by installing banners to offer on-site guidance during daily commutes.

From September 1 to September 23, when the physical Climate Companion Pass cards are launched, the city will operate promotional booths at 12 major subway stations in Seoul with high passenger volume. If users who have switched to the Climate Companion Pass return their used Climate Companion Cards at these offline booths, they will be able to exchange them for a coffee or convenience store coupon as part of a concurrent promotional event.

A Seoul Metropolitan Government official stated, "We are carrying out extensive promotional activities so that citizens can complete the card conversion in advance and receive transportation subsidy benefits without disruption."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.