Transit

Transit card

Climate Card in Seoul 2026

₩5,000-20,000

Unlimited subway + bus + Han River bus + city bike in Seoul, 1 to 7 day passes.

Climate Card is Seoul's unlimited-ride city pass, introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in January 2024 as a public transit and emissions-reduction measure. For visitors, the value proposition is straightforward: pay a flat daily price, ride the Seoul subway and city buses as many times as you want, plus the Han River taxi-bus and the Seoul Bike (Ttareungyi) bike-share system. Issued in 1-day (₩5,000), 2-day (₩8,000), 3-day (₩10,000), 5-day (₩15,000), and 7-day (₩20,000) durations.

The breakeven against T-money sits at roughly 4 rides per day in the Seoul fare zone. Below 4 rides, T-money is cheaper because each subway base ride is ₩1,400. At 4 rides per day, T-money costs ~₩5,600/day, so Climate Card already wins on day 1. Most tourist itineraries (hotel to neighbourhood, neighbourhood to lunch, lunch to attraction, attraction back to hotel) hit 4 rides easily, which is why Climate Card is the picks-itself answer for visitors moving around the city actively.

Two important coverage notes. First, Climate Card covers the Seoul subway zone but does NOT cover the Sinbundang Line (red), the GTX, or AREX express - these are private lines outside the SMG fare system. Second, Climate Card is Seoul-only: it stops working the moment you cross into Gyeonggi-do (suburb buses, Suwon, Yongin, etc.). For visitors staying inside Seoul proper it is rarely an issue, but day-trippers to the suburbs need a T-money backup.

Where to buy

  • AREX (Airport Railroad Express) station counters at both Incheon Terminal 1 and Gimpo.
  • Any major subway station information counter (Hongdae, Seoul Station, Myeongdong, Gangnam, etc).
  • Climate Card mobile app for Android (Korean number required for activation; in-person pickup easier for visitors).
  • Tourist information centers - check ahead, not every center stocks them.

How to load

  1. Buy the pass at the counter; pay the flat ₩5,000 / ₩8,000 / ₩10,000 / ₩15,000 / ₩20,000 fee in cash or card.
  2. Activate at the gate by tapping the card. The countdown starts on the first tap.
  3. 1-day = 24 hours from first tap, 7-day = 168 hours, etc.
  4. No reload needed - it is a fixed-duration unlimited pass, not a stored-value card.

How to use

  1. Subway: tap on entry and exit. Fare is ₩0 (the daily pass covers it).
  2. Bus: tap when boarding AND when getting off (still required for the system to track usage).
  3. Han River bus: tap at the Han River taxi-bus terminal entry.
  4. Seoul Bike (Ttareungyi): scan the QR on the bike with the Climate Card app linked, or use the kiosk where supported.
  5. Does NOT cover: Sinbundang Line, GTX-A, AREX express, intercity buses, taxis.

Refund flow at trip end

Climate Card is a fixed-duration pass, so there is no balance to refund. If you bought the wrong duration (e.g. a 7-day for a 3-day trip), the difference is non-refundable. Plan duration carefully at purchase; activate on the day you start moving.

Pre-arrival pickup

Climate Card is also available on Klook with airport-pickup vouchers. Useful if you want it reserved before your flight and skip the counter queue at Incheon.

Browse Climate Card on Klook

Pros

  • Cheapest option for active visitors (4+ rides per day) inside Seoul proper.
  • Covers Han River bus + Seoul Bike, which T-money does not offset for.
  • Simple - one tap, no thinking about per-ride fares.
  • Aligned with the visitor pattern of clustered same-day trips.

Cons

  • Seoul-only - stops covering you the moment you cross to Gyeonggi-do suburbs.
  • Does not cover Sinbundang Line, GTX, AREX express, taxis, or convenience-store payment.
  • No refund for unused days.
  • Need to know your activity level before purchasing; under-3-ride days are wasted.

Best for

Active visitors clustered inside Seoul who plan to ride 4+ times per day, especially over 3 to 7 days.

vs the other cards

Pick Climate Card over T-money if you ride 4+ times a day inside Seoul. Pick T-money if you want taxi + convenience store + Gyeonggi-do flexibility. Climate Card does not replace T-money for everything - many visitors carry both (Climate for unlimited rides + T-money for taxis and stores).

Other 3 cards at a glance

T-money

₩2,500-4,000 + load

The default Seoul transit card. Pay-as-you-go for subway, bus, taxi, and convenience stores.

WOWPASS

₩5,000

T-money + prepaid debit + currency exchange in one card. Reload from a kiosk in 16 currencies.

Korea Tour Card

₩4,000

T-money with discounts at attractions, shows, and duty-free. Worth it if you hit COEX Aquarium, Lotte World, or N Seoul Tower.

Sources

Last verified 2026-05-24.

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