Visiting Korea, whether for short or long term, means plenty of traveling and exploration.
Public transportation is a key part of getting around, and if most of your stay will be in Seoul, then the Climate Card might be your perfect travel buddy.
Similar to the Tmoney Card, the Climate Card offers a convenient way to ride Seoul’s buses and subways, but with a twist.
So, why should you consider getting the Climate Card for your travels in Seoul? And how exactly does it work?
In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know before getting your Climate Card:
What Is The Climate Card?
The Climate Card is a commonly used transportation card that can be used for buses, subways and even the public bikes in Seoul.
Unlike using Tmoney Card or paying with a credit card, the Climate Card allows unlimited rides within the package you purchase. Meaning you can ride as many buses and subways as you want per day without paying extra fees.
How Much Is The Climate Card?
The climate card has different package plans you can choose from, depending on your needs and the duration of your stay:
1-day pass – KRW 5,000
2-day pass – KRW 8,000
3-day pass – KRW 10,000
5-day pass – KRW 15,000
7-day pass – KRW 20,000
For longer stays, you can choose a 30-day pass:
KRW 62,000 or KRW 65,000 – Includes access to Seoul’s public bikes
Please notice that a public bike access requires a local Korean phone number. If you don’t have one, we recommend choosing the regular 30-day pass instead.
Again, keep in mind that no matter the package you choose, you have unlimited rides with the climate card for the duration you have picked.
It is also important to know that you cannot change the type of card until the expiration date, therefore whether the Seoul public bike (Ttareungi) is included cannot be changed either.
Where to Buy the Climate Card?
But where can you get the card and how can you choose your package? Easy. Just like with Tmoney Card, you purchase your Climate Card at any convenience store (GS25, 7-Eleven, etc.) or at a customer safety areas located inside Lines 1-8 of the Seoul Metro.
You can purchase the card in cash only for 3,000KRW (the price is separated from the package you’ll choose later).
To recharge or choose your package, you can go to any metro station machine, using cash or a Korean credit/debit card.
For further information about reloading you can check the official website of Tmoney and Climate Card.
How And Where Can You Use the Climate Card?
The Climate Card can be used only within Seoul. If you’re staying in Seoul and planning to travel a lot during your stay, then this might be the best option for you.
To use the Climate Card, you need to tag it on when you enter the bus or the subway, and tag it again when you get off.
Don’t forget to tag off to avoid extra charges! Not tagging it when get off, might result in losing up to 24 hours from your package.
If you plan to travel outside of Seoul, even if your trip begins in Seoul, be aware that you do need another kind of payment method. The Climate Card simply wouldn’t work if you try to tag it on a bus that goes outside of the City.
Using the Climate Card for Public Bikes
If you do own a Korean phone number and decided to purchase the 30-day-package including Seoul’s public bike (Ttareungi), this is what you need to do to connect your card to the bike-sharing app:
- Register Your Card Online by going to the T-Money Card & Pay website and sign up as a member and register your Climate Card details.
- Set Up the T-Money GO App. Download the T-Money GO app, log in, and register your Climate Card number (Your card has a 16-digit code on the back, starting with 1032).
You can only register your card one hour after adding funds to your Climate Card, so don’t worry if you can’t see the option immediately! - To activate the bike Pass, use the two-hour bike pass available in the T-Money GO app.
After completing these steps, you can enjoy unlimited bike rentals throughout Seoul using your Climate Card.
5. How To Get A Refund For Your Climate Card?
Unexpected things happen and sometimes our plans don’t go exactly as we expected them to. Luckily, it is possible to get a refund for the remaining amount on your Climate Card in case you need to.
Although the amount you paid for the card itself is non-refundable, you can still get back a refund for the remaining balance. This is how it works:
- Refunds have to be done within the period of use of your Climate Card, and before the Climate Card expires.
- Go to a subway station reload machine (Lines 1-9, Ui-Sinseol Line, or Sillim Line) and scan your Climate Card, then select the refund option (Stop Card Use).
- Visit the T-Town Customer Center (1st floor, Seoul City Tower, 110 Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul).
- A staff member will check your card and have you fill out a refund receipt (passport may be required).
- Return to the center after 3 business days to receive your refund in cash.
Refund Conditions:
- Used transportation or bike fees will be deducted (KRW 1,000 per day, up to KRW 5,000 max).
- A 500KRW processing fee applies.
- Short-term pass refunds (less than 30-day-packages) are only available if purchased in cash and must be done at T-Town Customer Center.
- 30-day pass & credit/debit card purchases must be refunded through the T-Money website (Korean bank account required under your name).
Climate Card VS Tmoney Card
If you’ve done your research, you’ve probably heard of the Tmoney Card. And of course, in case you haven’t, you can always go and check our article about Tmoney Cards.
But which card should you choose when traveling to Korea? What are the key differences between Tmoney and Climate Card? Check out the table below to see how the two cards differ:
| Feature | Climate Card | T-Money Card |
| Cost | 3,000KRW + Package price depends on duration | 3,000KRW + Top up as much as needed |
| Travel Area | Seoul’s metripolitan area | Nationwide |
| Usage | Unlimited bus & subway rides (within the chosen validity period) | Bus, subway, taxi, some retail stores and vending machines |
| Top-Up Method | Subway stations (cash or Korean credit card) | Convenience stores (cash only), subway stations and the mobile app (in Korean) |
| Refund Policy | Refundable only for 1-7 day tourist passes (30-day pass is non-refundable) | Refundable if balance is above 10,000KRW (500KRW service fee) |
| Expiry | Expires after the validity period ends (can be re-charged) | – |
| Additional Benefits | – | 100KRW discount per ride |
Depending on the kind of trip you are planning, you can choose whether to use the Climate Card or not for your traveling.
If your trip includes a lot of destinations outside of Seoul, you might want to go with the regular Tmoney card. But if you plan to stay only in Seoul, we recommend using the Climate Card.
Enjoy your time in Korea!