Travel & getting around

Climate Card: unlimited subway and bus in Seoul

As of: October 2026 · Leben in Korea

Spending a few days in Seoul and want to get around a lot? With the Climate Card Short-Term Pass you ride the subway and buses as much as you like. Here's what it costs and what to watch out for.

What does the Climate Card cost?

With the Short-Term Pass you get unlimited rides on subways and buses in Seoul. The card itself costs a one-off ₩3,000, plus the pass:

1 day: ₩5,000
2 days: ₩8,000
3 days: ₩10,000
5 days: ₩15,000
7 days: ₩20,000

Where do you buy the card?

You buy the card at the new machines in the subway stations of lines 1 to 8. On line 9, the Ui-Sinseol line and the Sillim line you get it at convenience stores near the station.

Since 17 March 2026 you can pay with a foreign credit card (Visa, Mastercard) at 440 machines in 273 stations. There's a fee of about 3.7% on average.

With Android (OS 12 or later) the card is also available as a mobile card. With an iPhone you need the plastic card.

When does the pass start?

The pass is valid from the day you top it up. You can't top it up in advance. A 1-day pass is valid until the last train or bus of the day.

What isn't included?

Not included are:

Sinbundang line
intercity buses and airport buses
buses not licensed in Seoul
AREX airport railway: only included between Gimpo Airport and Seoul Station
with the 1-day pass: rental bikes (Ttareungi) and Hangang Bus

Careful when you get off

If you get off outside the valid area, the card doesn't cover the ride, even if you got on inside it.

Money back

You can only get a refund before the pass expires: the amount topped up minus the amount used minus a ₩500 fee. Without a Korean bank account you do this at the Tmoney head office.

Sources

As of: October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice. No guarantee; the official authorities have the final word.