Seoul's popular unlimited 'Climate Card' abruptly canceled amid integration disputes

Confusion and dismay are spreading among nearly one million users of Seoul's 'Climate Card' as the unlimited public transport pass faces an abrupt operational halt. Announcement notices posted at subway stations across the city have informed citizens of the service's termination, leaving many bewildered.

The situation is particularly jarring given Seoul's recent announcement last month of a 'Climate Card Plus' initiative. This had led users to anticipate an expansion of the service, making the sudden discontinuation even more perplexing.

Seoul city officials explained the halt by citing difficulties in integrating the 'Climate Card' with the ministry-operated 'Modu Card' system. They stated that negotiations for a unified service have not proceeded smoothly. Conversely, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport countered that Seoul unilaterally announced the integration plans without adequately addressing crucial considerations such as budget and system verification.

This conflict highlights a broader issue of competing public transport initiatives. The current situation was foreshadowed by the competitive launch of similar unlimited transport passes by both the central government and metropolitan authorities three years prior. In August and September 2023, both the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and Seoul City announced new transport cards around the same time: the ministry introduced the 'K-Pass,' which offers partial refunds for frequent public transport users, while Seoul launched its flat-rate monthly pass for subway and bus travel.