Seoul raises age limit for discounted Climate Cards

Social Affairs

Published: 28 Apr. 2024, 16:07 Updated: 28 Apr. 2024, 16:09

Seoul raises age limit for discounted Climate Cards

A person passes through the subway turnstiles at the platform at Gwanghwamun Station in central Seoul on April 15, with a banner advertising the Climate Card unlimited public transportation pass displayed nearby. [YONHAP]

An affordable version of the Climate Card will be available to more commuters as the age limit for the service rises from 34 to 39.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sunday, those between the ages of 35 and 39 will additionally be eligible to use the Climate Card at the discounted prices of 55,000 won ($41) a month for unlimited subway and bus rides, or 58,000 won a month to also use the capital’s public bicycles, Ttareungi.

The standard fee for the Climate Card is 62,000 won per month for unlimited rides on subways and buses and 65,000 won per month for additional access to public bicycles.

The expansion of the service comes as the city government aims to alleviate the burden of transportation costs and encourage more commuters to convert to public transit. According to the city government, those between the ages of 35 and 39 owned the highest number of cars within the “youth” category, possessing around 230,000 cars.

People between the ages of 19 and 39 are considered as youth, according to the city government’s Ordinance on Youth.

Those between the ages of 30 and 34 possessed 170,000 cars while those from 25 to 29 owned 70,000.

Commuters eligible for the cheaper option will be able to apply for reimbursements in July, as they would still need to pay the standard cost during the passes’ pilot period, which lasts through June 30.

People who purchase the card can receive reimbursements of up to 7,000 won per month for using the pass from Feb. 26 to June 30.

Following the announcement of the card’s youth version in February, the number of young users doubled in a month from 130,000 to 250,000 in late March, the city government said.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]