Tourists can now buy Seoul transit passes with overseas credit cards

A subway rider passes through the ticket gate using a Climate Companion Card at City Hall Station in Jung District, Seoul, Jan. 29, 2024. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Seoul will introduce a new payment system allowing foreign tourists to purchase public transportation passes using overseas credit and debit cards, as the city expects an influx of visitors ahead of BTS’ comeback performance on Saturday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday that the Climate Companion Card — an unlimited public transportation pass valid within Seoul — and one-off subway tickets can be purchased using overseas credit and debit cards starting Tuesday.

Purchases will be available through new ticket machines installed at 273 subway stations across Lines 1 to 8. Kakao Pay and Naver Pay will also be accepted.

The policy is part of the city’s efforts to address difficulties faced by foreign tourists, many of whom have been left confused in front of ticket machines that require cash. It is also intended to ease the inconvenience of having to search for currency exchange counters.

Previously, overseas credit cards could not be used with Seoul’s public transportation card readers, forcing many foreign visitors to buy one-off tickets using cash. The city said it plans to expand the payment system to regular transportation card readers beginning in 2027.

Climate Companion Cards purchased with overseas credit cards will initially be limited to short-term passes, but the city will consider expanding it to the 30-day pass after monitoring demand. The pass can also be used on buses and public bicycles.

One-off tickets will be available for purchase starting Tuesday and can be used immediately for subway rides. However, their use will be limited to the subway, unlike the Climate Companion Card.

A 3.7 percent processing fee will be charged when purchasing the pass or one-off tickets with overseas credit or debit cards.

Seoul also plans to set up help desks at Seoul Station, Hongik University Station and Myeong-dong Station — areas frequently visited by foreign tourists — to explain how to purchase and recharge the Climate Companion Card and to distribute informational materials in multiple languages.

The city will operate the booths on March 17, the first day of the system’s implementation, as well as on March 20 and 21, the eve and day of the BTS concert, respectively.

Seoul will continue improving its services so foreign tourists can easily access the city’s public transportation system, said Yeo Jang-kwon, deputy mayor for transportation.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.