Seoul City and Ministry of Land Dispute Over Climate Companion Card Integration

Seoul's Transportation Director Ye Jang-kwon announced the launch of the 'Climate Companion Card Plus' during a briefing at City Hall on June 17, stating that it will offer expanded options and enhanced benefits starting July 1. [Photo=Seoul City]

Seoul City has announced plans to transition its own public transportation pass, the Climate Companion Card, into a new version called the 'Climate Companion Card Plus,' which will integrate with the government's K-Pass. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has denied the integration, leading to a clash between the two entities.

During a briefing on June 17, Seoul City officials stated that the Climate Companion Card Plus will combine the features of the Climate Companion Card and the K-Pass. They explained, "Since both systems serve similar purposes and functions, integrating them will reduce confusion for citizens and enhance administrative efficiency."

The Climate Companion Card Plus is designed to build on the existing benefits of the Climate Companion Card while incorporating elements from the K-Pass. Users will automatically receive the more advantageous option between a refund system and a fixed-rate system based on their transportation expenses and usage patterns. For citizens who frequently use public transportation, a fixed-rate option with a monthly limit of 100,000 won will be available, according to Seoul City.

Seoul City also announced that the current Climate Companion Card service will end on September 1, and users will be transitioned to the new service. They encouraged users to switch to either the Climate Companion Card Plus or the K-Pass to enjoy the benefits starting in July.

Previously, Seoul City fully funded the discounts associated with the Climate Companion Card. However, with the transition to the K-Pass system, the government will share some of the financial burden, potentially saving the city between 140 billion and 150 billion won annually.

In response, the Ministry of Land issued a statement denying the claims, stating, "The assertion that the Climate Companion Card and K-Pass will be integrated starting in July is completely false." The ministry noted that Seoul City had requested K-Pass membership for the Climate Companion Card on June 5, and the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Transportation Committee is currently reviewing the request.

The ministry expressed regret that Seoul City issued a press release without thorough examination, emphasizing that the proposed integration plan and implementation timeline have not been finalized with the government.

In defense, Seoul City clarified that they did not mean to imply a complete legal merger of the two systems. They stated, "We used the term 'integration' to indicate that we will operate the benefits of the Seoul City program within the K-Pass framework as a single service." They also assured that they would launch the Climate Companion Card Plus after sufficient discussions with the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Transportation Committee.

While Seoul City has announced the termination of the existing Climate Companion Card and the transition to the new service, the Ministry of Land has drawn a line, indicating that it is still in the review phase. This has left the timeline and scope of the new service uncertain, leading to increased confusion among current users regarding the end date of the existing card and the application of new benefits.

* This article has been translated by AI.