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How to Buy a Climate Card in Korea — Unlimited Transit Pass Guide, Monthly Savings Breakdown & Where to Get It (2026)
If you're living in or visiting Seoul, public transportation costs add up faster than you'd expect — a single subway ride now costs ₩1,550 as of June 2025, and four daily rides can drain over ₩180,000 a month from your wallet. The Seoul Climate Card (기후동행카드) slashes that to a flat ₩62,000 for unlimited subway and bus rides for 30 days, making it one of the smartest transit investments in Korea right now. This guide walks you through everything — from purchasing and charging to a real savings breakdown — based on hands-on experience navigating Seoul's transit system as a non-Korean speaker, plus the latest 2026 updates including the new nationwide "모두의 카드" K-Pass option.
⚡ 30-Second Summary
- What: Seoul's unlimited monthly transit pass covering subways, buses, and optionally Ttareungi bikes + Hangang Bus
- Cost: ₩62,000/month (≈$43 USD) for subway + bus — Youth (19–39) pay ₩55,000. Tourist short-term passes from ₩5,000 (1-day) to ₩20,000 (7-day)
- Where to Buy: Physical card at Seoul Metro Info Centers (Lines 1–8) or convenience stores for ₩3,000 cash → charge at subway kiosks
- Break-even: If you ride 3+ times daily, you save ₩100,000+/month vs. T-money pay-per-ride
- 2026 Update: Expanded AREX coverage, new "모두의 카드" nationwide K-Pass alternative launched Jan 2026
📋 Table of Contents
- What Is the Climate Card?
- Pass Types & Pricing (2026 Updated)
- Where & How to Buy — Step by Step
- How to Charge & Reload
- Coverage Map — What's Included & Excluded
- Real Monthly Savings Breakdown
- Climate Card vs. T-money vs. K-Pass: Which Is Right for You?
- Practical Tips from Actual Use
- How Foreigners Can Get a Refund
- 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- FAQ
Understanding this card saved me over $80 a month — here's everything I wish I'd known on day one.
1. What Is the Seoul Climate Card (기후동행카드)?
The Climate Card is Seoul Metropolitan Government's unlimited public transportation pass, launched in January 2024 and now a permanent fixture of Seoul's transit ecosystem. Think of it as a "Netflix subscription for public transit" — pay once, ride unlimited for 30 days on Seoul subways, city buses, town buses, night buses, and optionally Ttareungi public bikes and the Hangang Bus.
The original motivation behind the card was environmental. Seoul aimed to incentivize public transit use over private cars to reduce carbon emissions. But the practical benefit for riders — especially foreigners navigating an unfamiliar city — is enormous. Instead of calculating fares, worrying about transfer windows, or watching your T-money balance drain, you simply tap and go. The card works on all Seoul-licensed bus routes (even when the bus crosses into Gyeonggi-do) and all subway lines that pass through Seoul, with some specific station-level exceptions detailed below.
The program started as a pilot but its success was undeniable: Seoul reported that over 5 million cards were issued within the first year, and the city made the program permanent starting July 2024 with the addition of tourist short-term passes (1, 2, 3, 5, and 7-day options). This was a game-changer for visitors who previously had to do math on whether T-money or daily passes were more cost-effective.
Who Can Use It?
Anyone. Korean citizens, foreign residents, tourists — there are no nationality restrictions. The only practical difference is how you get the card. Android users (OS 12+) with a Korean phone number can use the mobile version through the T-money Card & Pay app. Everyone else — which includes most tourists and many foreign residents — uses the physical card. The physical card costs ₩3,000 (a one-time purchase, reusable every month), and you charge your chosen pass type at subway station kiosks.
The pricing looks simple, but choosing the right pass type can save you thousands of won.
2. Pass Types & Pricing (2026 Updated)
Seoul offers two main categories: the 30-day monthly pass for residents and commuters, and short-term passes designed for tourists and temporary visitors. The monthly passes come in four tiers depending on whether you want Ttareungi bikes and/or the Hangang Bus included. Short-term passes cover subway and bus only.
| Pass Type | Regular Price | Youth (19–39) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ₩62,000 | ₩55,000 | Subway + Bus |
| + Ttareungi | ₩65,000 | ₩58,000 | Subway + Bus + Seoul Bike |
| + Hangang Bus | ₩67,000 | ₩60,000 | Subway + Bus + Hangang Bus |
| Full Package | ₩70,000 | ₩63,000 | Subway + Bus + Bike + Hangang Bus |
| Duration | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day | ₩5,000 | Subway + Bus only (No Ttareungi/Hangang Bus) |
| 2 Days | ₩8,000 | |
| 3 Days | ₩10,000 | |
| 5 Days | ₩15,000 | |
| 7 Days | ₩20,000 |
The buying process isn't complicated — but there are a few steps that trip up first-timers.
3. Where & How to Buy — Step by Step
Step 1: Get the Physical Card (₩3,000)
You need to buy the empty card itself before you can load a pass onto it. This is a one-time purchase — the same card can be recharged month after month. There are two types of locations where you can buy it.
Seoul Metro Customer Safety Centers are information desks located inside Seoul Metro stations on Lines 1 through 8. These are staffed booths, and you can simply say "Climate Card" — most staff understand the English name. Payment is cash only at these counters.
Convenience stores near subway stations — GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 — also sell the physical card. At convenience stores, you can pay with cash or a domestic Korean card. Just ask the cashier: "기후동행카드 주세요" (gi-hu dong-haeng ka-deu ju-se-yo). If Korean pronunciation feels daunting, showing the Hangul text on your phone works perfectly.
Step 2: Register Your Card Online
After purchasing the physical card, you must register it on the T-money Card & Pay website. Look at the back of your card — there's a QR code. Scan it, or visit the website directly and enter the 16-digit card number starting with "1032." Registration is essential: without it, you cannot get refunds, and you cannot use Ttareungi even if you purchased the bike-inclusive pass. The website has an English interface, though some sections may default to Korean.
Step 3: Charge Your Pass at a Subway Kiosk
Head to any unmanned card-charging kiosk inside Seoul Metro stations (Lines 1–9, Ui-Sinseol Line, Sillim Line, and Gimpo Goldline). These machines have English language options. Insert or tap your Climate Card, select your desired pass type (30-day or short-term), choose your start date (you can pick any date within 5 days for 30-day passes; short-term passes start immediately), and pay. Kiosks accept cash and domestic debit/credit cards. Gimpo Goldline kiosks accept cash only.
① Buy physical card (₩3,000, convenience store or Metro desk) → ② Register at T-money Card & Pay website (scan QR on back) → ③ Go to subway station kiosk → ④ Select pass type + start date → ⑤ Pay (cash or Korean card) → ⑥ Done! Tap to ride.
Charging looks straightforward — but the reload timing has a quirk that catches people off guard.
4. How to Charge & Reload
Reloading works differently depending on whether your pass is still active or has already expired. If your 30-day pass is still running, you can reload it within the last 5 days before expiration. The system automatically extends your pass by another 30 days from the expiration date — you cannot change your pass type during this early reload. If your pass has expired, you go through the same process as initial charging: visit a kiosk, pick your pass type, choose a start date, and pay.
For short-term passes, reloading is only possible after the pass has fully expired. You cannot stack multiple short-term passes.
Coverage is generous — but one wrong stop outside the boundary and you'll pay a surprise fare.
5. Coverage Map — What's Included & Excluded
The Climate Card covers an impressive amount of Seoul's transit network, but it's not truly "all of Korea" — it's centered on Seoul with some strategic extensions into surrounding areas. Understanding the boundaries prevents unexpected charges.
What's Covered
All Seoul subway lines (Lines 1–9), plus Ui-Sinseol Line, Sillim Line, Gimpo Goldline, and portions of shared lines that pass through Seoul. The AREX airport railroad from Gimpo Airport to Seoul Station is included, and since September 2024, you can even get off at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and T2 stations (but you cannot board there). Seoul-licensed city buses, town (마을) buses, and night (심야) buses are all covered regardless of whether the route extends outside Seoul city limits.
What's NOT Covered
The Sinbundang Line is excluded entirely. Intercity express buses and airport limousine buses are not covered. Subway stations outside Seoul's designated service range are off-limits for both boarding and alighting. If you board at a covered station and ride past the boundary — say, from Jongno 3-ga to Indeogwon Station in Gyeonggi-do — station staff will collect the full fare from your boarding station to the exit station. This counts as one "untagged exit" penalty as well.
Here's where the Climate Card really shines — the math doesn't lie.
6. Real Monthly Savings Breakdown
I tracked my actual transit usage for one month to calculate real-world savings. Living in Seoul and commuting daily plus weekend outings, here's what the numbers looked like.
Here's the detailed math. Seoul's base subway fare is ₩1,550 as of June 2025. A typical weekday commute involves 4 rides (two each way with a transfer that doesn't always fall within the 30-minute free transfer window). Weekend exploration adds another 4–6 rides over Saturday and Sunday. Over 30 days, that came to approximately 120 individual rides.
| Payment Method | Calculation | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| T-money (pay-per-ride) | 120 rides × ₩1,550 avg fare | ₩186,000 |
| Climate Card (30-day) | Flat rate | ₩62,000 |
| You Save | ₩124,000 |
Even if you only commute on weekdays (about 44 rides/month at 2 round trips), the Climate Card costs ₩62,000 versus ₩68,200 on T-money. You break even at roughly 40 rides per month — that's just 2 rides per day on 20 working days. Anything beyond that is pure savings.
Break-Even Point by Pass Type
| Pass | Cost | Break-Even Rides | Rides/Day Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Day (Subway+Bus) | ₩62,000 | 40 rides | ~1.3/day |
| 7-Day Tourist | ₩20,000 | 13 rides | ~1.9/day |
| 5-Day Tourist | ₩15,000 | 10 rides | ~2/day |
| 3-Day Tourist | ₩10,000 | 7 rides | ~2.3/day |
| 1-Day Tourist | ₩5,000 | 4 rides | 4/day |
Choosing the wrong card wastes money — this comparison makes the decision easy.
7. Climate Card vs. T-money vs. K-Pass (모두의 카드): Which Is Right for You?
As of 2026, Seoul residents and visitors have three main transit payment options, each with distinct advantages. The right choice depends entirely on your situation.
| Feature | Climate Card | T-money | K-Pass 모두의 카드 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Flat-rate unlimited | Pay-per-ride | Refund-based (over threshold) |
| Monthly Cost | ₩62,000 fixed | Varies (usage) | ₩62,000 threshold* |
| Coverage | Seoul only | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Foreigners | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ Korean residents only |
| Sinbundang Line | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Gyeonggi Buses | ❌ No (Seoul buses only) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ttareungi Bike | ✅ (₩65,000 pass) | ❌ Separate | ❌ Separate |
| Best For | Heavy Seoul riders, tourists | Light/mixed use | Korean residents, commuters |
*K-Pass 모두의 카드, launched January 1, 2026, automatically refunds transit spending above the threshold amount. For Seoul residents, the "일반형" threshold is ₩62,000/month. Everything above that gets refunded. It also covers nationwide routes including intercity buses and GTX, which the Climate Card doesn't. However, registration requires Korean residency and a K-Pass-affiliated credit/debit card, making it impractical for most foreigners.
These are things no official guide tells you — but they'll save you real headaches.
8. Practical Tips from Actual Use
The Convenience Store Card Confusion
You can buy the physical card at convenience stores, but you cannot charge (load a pass onto) it there. Charging is only available at subway station kiosks. I initially walked into a GS25, bought my card, and then stood there confused when the cashier couldn't load my 30-day pass. The cashier pointed me to the nearest subway station. Save yourself the trip — buy the card at a convenience store if it's more convenient, but plan to visit a subway station immediately after for charging.
Start Date Strategy
For 30-day passes, you can choose a start date up to 5 days after charging. This is incredibly useful if you're buying the card on, say, a Wednesday but want the pass to start on Monday when your workweek begins. Short-term passes do not have this option — they begin the day you charge.
The AREX Airport Trick
Since September 2024, you can ride AREX from Gimpo Airport to Seoul Station and even get off at Incheon Airport T1/T2 after boarding within Seoul. The catch: you cannot board at Incheon Airport. So if you're heading to the airport, the Climate Card works. Coming from the airport? You'll need T-money or a ticket for that first AREX ride from Incheon to Gimpo/Seoul, then switch to your Climate Card for everything else.
Ttareungi Without Korean Authentication
Even if you buy the ₩65,000 pass that includes Ttareungi, you need a Korean authentication method (I-PIN or Korean phone number) registered through the T-money GO app to actually unlock bikes. Most tourists cannot do this. Unless you have Korean phone verification, save ₩3,000 and stick with the basic ₩62,000 pass.
Getting your money back is possible — but the process requires planning ahead.
9. How Foreigners Can Get a Refund
Refunds are available but must be initiated before your pass expires. The process for foreigners without a Korean bank account requires an in-person visit, so factor this into your schedule.
① Visit a subway kiosk (Lines 1–9, Ui-Sinseol, Sillim) and scan your card
② Press "Refund (Stop Card Use)" on screen
③ Your card use is now frozen — do this before expiration
④ Visit T-Town Customer Center (1F Seoul City Tower, 110 Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul)
⑤ Show your passport, confirm refund eligibility, fill out receipt
⑥ Return to T-Town 3 business days later to receive cash refund
Refund Amount = Charged amount − Actual rides used − ₩500 processing fee
(Ttareungi usage: ₩1,000/day, max ₩5,000 deducted)
Avoid these — each one cost someone real money or real frustration.
10. 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners buy the Seoul Climate Card?
Yes. Foreigners can purchase a physical Climate Card at any Seoul Metro Information Center (Lines 1–8) or participating convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24) for ₩3,000 in cash. The mobile version requires a Korean phone number and Android OS 12+, so most tourists use the physical card.
How much does the Climate Card cost per month?
The 30-day subway + bus pass costs ₩62,000 (about $43 USD). Adding Ttareungi (Seoul Bike) raises it to ₩65,000, and including Hangang Bus costs ₩67,000. Youth ages 19–39 get a ₩7,000 discount on all 30-day passes. Short-term tourist passes range from ₩5,000 (1-day) to ₩20,000 (7-day).
Is the Climate Card worth it compared to T-money?
If you ride Seoul subways and buses 2+ times daily, the Climate Card saves significant money. With Seoul's base subway fare at ₩1,550, taking 4 rides per day on T-money costs about ₩186,000/month, while the Climate Card is fixed at ₩62,000 — a savings of roughly ₩124,000 (about $86 USD). For tourists staying 4+ days, even the 7-day pass at ₩20,000 beats individual T-money fares.
Can I use the Climate Card on the AREX airport train?
You can ride AREX from Gimpo International Airport Station to Seoul Station. Since September 2024, you can also get off at Incheon Airport T1 and T2 stations if you boarded within Seoul. However, you cannot board at Incheon Airport stations using the Climate Card.
How do foreigners get a refund on the Climate Card?
Before the pass expires, visit a subway kiosk and press "Refund (Stop Card Use)." Then visit the T-Town Customer Center (1F Seoul City Tower, 110 Huam-ro, Jung-gu). Foreigners without a Korean bank account receive a cash refund at T-Town 3 business days after applying. A ₩500 processing fee is deducted.
What is the difference between Climate Card and K-Pass (모두의 카드) in 2026?
The Climate Card is Seoul-only and works as a flat-rate unlimited pass (₩62,000/month). K-Pass "모두의 카드" launched nationwide on January 1, 2026, and refunds excess transit spending above a threshold. Climate Card is better for heavy Seoul-only riders; 모두의 카드 is better for Korean residents who also use intercity or Gyeonggi routes. Only Korean residents with K-Pass registration can use 모두의 카드.
Can I use the Climate Card outside of Seoul?
For buses, yes — if the bus is Seoul-licensed, you can ride it even when the route goes outside city limits. For subways, coverage extends to specific stations on shared lines (e.g., Line 4 to Jinjeop, Suin-Bundang to Ori Station). However, exiting at non-covered stations incurs the full standard fare. Check Seoul's official Climate Card service range page before traveling to the outskirts.
Found this guide helpful?
Share it with friends planning a trip to Seoul — it could save them ₩100,000+ in a single month.
💬 Have a question about the Climate Card I didn't cover? Drop a comment below and I'll update this guide with the answer.
📧 acejumin4@gmail.com
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