What changes are coming with Seoul’s Everyone’s Card on Sept. 1?

Everyone’s Card will replace Seoul’s unlimited Climate Card model with K-pass style transit rebates. Seoul said existing cardholders will automatically receive the city’s added benefits, and youth discounts will apply to riders aged 19 to 39.

Why is Seoul extending Climate Card validity before the new transit pass starts?

Seoul is extending the existing 30-day Climate Card by a month to prevent a gap in transit benefits when the old pass is discontinued at the end of August. Prepaid cards stay usable through Sept. 29, and postpaid cards through Sept. 30.

How does K-pass calculate transit rebates for Seoul riders?

K-pass gives 20 percent back to general users and 30 percent to youth, or a fixed refund once monthly spending passes 62,000 won for general users or 55,000 won for youth, whichever is better for the rider. Seoul said discounts for veterans and bike-share users are planned later.

Seoul's transit pass to be replaced by nationwide K-pass system Sept. 1

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Summary

Seoul will launch Everyone’s Card, a localized K-pass transit rebate program, on Sept. 1 as the city’s Climate Card is phased out at the end of August. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the new pass will extend youth discount eligibility to ages 19 to 39 and apply added benefits automatically to existing registrants. The city will also extend Climate Card validity for a month to avoid a gap in coverage.

Key Facts

K-pass refunds 20 percent of monthly transit spending for general users and 30 percent for youth, or a set amount after spending exceeds 62,000 won for general users or 55,000 won for youth.
Seoul becomes the eighth local government to expand K-pass benefits after similar moves by Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan, Sejong, Gwangju, South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan.
The youth discount eligibility in Seoul will be widened from ages 19 to 34 to ages 19 to 39.
Prepaid Climate Card users can recharge through Aug. 31 and use the card through Sept. 29, while postpaid cards remain valid through Sept. 30.
The K-pass program surpassed 6 million subscribers on Wednesday, up from 5 million in April.

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Published Jul 30, 2026 11:52 am KST

An image of Seoul's 'Everyone's Card' / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government — An image of Seoul's "Everyone's Card" / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul will roll out "Everyone's Card," a localized version of the national K-pass transit rebate program, on Sept. 1, timed to the discontinuation of the city's unlimited Climate Card pass at the end of August.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government, in partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transport Commission, said Thursday that Seoul is expanding its region-specific K-Pass perks.

Following similar moves by Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan, Sejong, Gwangju, South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan, Seoul becomes the eighth local government to enhance the card's benefits — most notably by extending the youth discount eligibility from ages 19–34 to ages 19–39.

K-pass, unlike the flat-fee Climate Card, refunds a percentage of monthly transit spending — 20 percent for general users and 30 percent for youth — or a set amount once spending passes 62,000 won ($42) for general users or 55,000 won for youth, whichever benefits the rider more. Discounts for veterans and bike-share users are planned later.

Riders already registered for the card will have Seoul's added benefits applied automatically, without needing a new card.

To avoid a gap in coverage, Seoul will extend its existing 30-day Climate Card by a month: prepaid cards can be recharged through Aug. 31 and used through Sept. 29, while postpaid cards remain valid through Sept. 30.

The K-pass program passed 6 million subscribers on Wednesday, up from 5 million in April.

"This closes any gap in benefits from the Climate Card's discontinuation," said a commission official. Seoul's acting first deputy mayor for administration called the Sept. 1 launch a result of close cooperation between the city and the commission.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

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