Tourist pass to include unlimited subway use

Seoul is set to upgrade its Discover Seoul Pass to allow unlimited subway access for foreign visitors.

The current pass, which is offered in a 24, 48, or 72 hours version, allows tourists to visit over 30 popular tourist attractions for free and receive additional discounts for performances and at duty free shops. It can also be used as a transportation card for buses, subways and taxis throughout the city when charged with cash at subway stations and convenience stores.

From December, an unlimited subway ride will be added as a feature.

“The pass will allow foreign visitors to use the subway for an unlimited number of times for one day or for three days at a time, before it expires,” Seoul Metro, run by the city government, said in statement on Thursday. “The pass will be available from December and it will be sold in physical form and also in digital format. The price has not been set yet.”

The prices set for the current Discover Seoul Passes are 39,900 ($33) won for 24 hours, 55,000 for 48 hours and 70,000 for 72 hours.

“The upgraded pass will allow users to get unlimited subway rides on Line No. 1 through 9,” Seoul Metro said in its statement. “We decided to add this function to the pass because 83.2 percent of 507 foreigners surveyed in December last year said they would like an unlimited metro pass.”

The pass, only open to foreigners, will be available for purchase online as well as at KEB Hana Bank branches and CU convenience stores at Incheon International Airport, as well as at the Myeongdong Tourist Information Center.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]