During a briefing on June 17, Seoul officials stated that the new Climate Companion Card Plus would combine the Climate Companion Card and K-Pass into a single service. "Since both systems serve similar purposes and functions, integrating them will reduce confusion among citizens and enhance administrative efficiency," the city explained.
The Climate Companion Card Plus is designed to build on the existing benefits of the Climate Companion Card while incorporating features from the K-Pass. Users will automatically receive the most advantageous option between a refund-based or fixed-rate system, depending on their transportation expenses and usage. Citizens who frequently use public transportation can opt for a fixed-rate plan with a monthly limit of 100,000 won, according to the city.
Seoul City also announced that it would discontinue the existing Climate Companion Card service on September 1, transitioning users to the new service. Additionally, residents are encouraged to switch to either the Climate Companion Card Plus or K-Pass to take advantage of the benefits starting in July.
Previously, Seoul City fully funded the discounts associated with the Climate Companion Card. However, with the transition to the K-Pass system, the government will share some of the financial burden, potentially saving the city between 140 billion and 150 billion won annually.
In response, the Ministry of Land issued a statement on the same day, asserting that the claim of integrating the K-Pass and Climate Companion Card starting in July is "completely untrue." The ministry clarified that Seoul City had requested K-Pass enrollment for the Climate Companion Card on June 5, and the Metropolitan Transport Committee is currently reviewing the request.
The ministry expressed regret that Seoul City issued a press release without thorough consideration, noting that there are many factors, such as budget and system verification, that need to be addressed. They emphasized that the integration plan and implementation timeline announced by Seoul City have not been finalized with the government.
In response, Seoul City clarified that the term "integration" does not imply a complete legal merger of the two systems. Instead, they intend to operate the K-Pass system with added Seoul City benefits as a single service. They also stated that they would launch the Climate Companion Card Plus after sufficient discussions with the Metropolitan Transport Committee.
While Seoul City has announced the termination of the existing Climate Companion Card and the transition to the new service, the Ministry of Land has indicated that it is still in the review phase, leaving the timeline and scope of implementation uncertain. As a result, existing Climate Companion Card users may face confusion regarding the termination date and the application of new benefits.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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