기후동행카드 신청It was the first day of the pilot project for the ‘Climate Companion Card’, which allows unlimited use of public transportation in Seoul for around 60,000 won per month.
The Climate Companion Card is the first unlimited public transportation integrated commuter pass introduced by Seoul City in the country. You can ride unlimited Seoul subways, night buses, city and village buses licensed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the public bicycle Ttareungi. There are two ways to apply: a physical card and a mobile card. To apply for a physical card, purchase it for 3,000 won at the customer safety room in the station on Lines 1 to 8 and recharge it with cash within 5 days. You can apply for a mobile card by downloading the T-money app and issuing it.
Many of the citizens I met at the subway station in Seoul that day expressed their expectations, saying that they would be able to save some money on transportation costs amidst the burden of rising prices.
Jinhee Lee (54), whom we met at the Hongik University Station on Line 2, said, “Her husband goes between Mangwon Station and Dolgoti Station on weekdays and frequently uses the subway and bus on weekends, spending about 100,000 won on transportation every month, but a card with great benefits came out, so she used it instead. “I came to buy it,” he said.
Choi Yoon-i (27), an office worker, said, “In order to go to work from Namgajwa-dong to the vicinity of the National Assembly building on weekdays, I have to use both the bus and the subway, so I can save at least 40,000 won a month with the Climate Companion Card.” “Because I ride it a lot, I plan to recharge it with a 65,000 won ticket (which can also be used on Ttareungi) in April,” he said.
Mr. Moon (31), an office worker who usually commutes from Gwangheungchang Station on Line 6 to Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, said, “I think I usually spend about 70,000 to 90,000 won on transportation costs,” and added, “I’m planning to move near Daechi Station soon, so transportation costs will be higher.” “I thought it would cost a lot, so I bought it in advance,” he said.
Mr. Lee (27), an office worker, also said, “It was a waste because there were times when an additional fee of 300 won was charged due to the long commute,” and laughed, “I spent over 100,000 won a month on transportation alone, but now I think I can reduce transportation expenses.”
Some citizens complained that it was inconvenient because they could not recharge with a credit card and the physical card could only be purchased with cash. There were also opinions that it was inconvenient for iPhone users to only use physical cards.
Mr. Kim (25), an office worker, said, “I use a Galaxy phone, but I was worried about my phone turning off, so I bought a physical card. I don’t usually use cash, but it was inconvenient to have to withdraw 100,000 won from the bank to recharge (the Climate Companion Card). “I did it,” he said.
She added, “Even if you purchase a physical card, you have to register the card on the T-money website anyway. I wish there was a function that would allow you to freely recharge with a credit card on the website.”
There were many residents of the metropolitan area who were disappointed that the Shinbundang Line, other city/provincial licensed buses, and metropolitan buses were excluded from the scope of using the Climate Companion Card.
Minji Yoo (24), a college student whom I met at Yeokgok Station on Subway Line 1 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, at around 10 a.m. on this day, said, “It’s vacation right now, but I go back and forth from Yeokgok Station to Konkuk University Station every day during the semester, but I can’t use my Gifu Companion Card at Yeokgok Station.” He said, “I honestly don’t understand why boarding and alighting is possible at Onsu Station, which is the previous station, but not at Yeokgok Station.”
In fact, on this day, when I tried to get off at Yeokgok Station using the Climate Companion Card, a warning sound came up and a message appeared on the ticket gate screen saying, ‘Station where the Climate Companion Card cannot be used.’ The station staff informed, “If you want to leave the station, you must pay a separate fee with another transportation card.”
Mr. Kim (44), who commutes to work by taking buses and subways every day from Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, to City Hall Station on Subway Line 2, said, “I was happy to hear that an unlimited public transportation pass was coming out, but I am very disappointed to hear that it cannot be used in Gwangmyeong.” “I wish I could use it,” he said.
There was also an opinion that more promotion of the Climate Companion Card was needed.
Yeo-eun Yoon, driver of Seoul City Bus No. 6716, asked, “Can two passengers use the Gifu Dong-haeng Card on the bus?” and “They tried to get off without swiping it when getting off, so I was told, ‘If you don’t swipe it twice in a row, you can’t use the card for one day. “It was announced that it would be suspended,” he said.
Mr. Chae (31), an office worker living in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong-gu, said, “I saw a lot of promotional materials for the Climate Companion Card on my way to work, but I didn’t really know the contents or benefits.” “It doesn’t seem intuitive that you can get it, so it seems like more promotion is needed.”
