Seoul, transport ministry clash again over 'Climate Card Plus' launch

Tensions between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport over the planned "Climate Card Plus" service continue to simmer. After the ministry expressed "regret" over Seoul's unilateral release of promotional materials on June 17, the two sides are now trading conflicting claims over whether a formal cooperation request has been sent. The Metropolitan Area Transport Commission — a body under the ministry — said at an afternoon briefing Thursday that it would "begin a full review once an official request for consultation is received," only for Seoul to respond that it had already sent the letter that morning.

Climate Card Plus is designed to link the existing Climate Commuter Card's specialized services to the Modu Card, a nationwide transit pass. Seoul had previously said it would launch Climate Card Plus only after reaching sufficient agreement with the commission on integrating those specialized services.

Park Ji-hong, a standing commissioner at the commission, was asked at the afternoon briefing how far the body could accommodate Seoul's demands regarding the integration of the Climate Commuter Card and the Modu Card. He said working-level talks with Seoul had begun in early June, during which the city shared its plan to wind down the Climate Commuter Card's signature 30,000-won ($20) cash-back benefit and outlined its concept for the Plus card. Ideas raised in those meetings included raising the eligible age for youth discounts and offering discounts for Ttareungi bike-sharing, discharged veterans, the GTX express rail and the Sinbundang Line. He added, however, that unlike the seven other local governments that had already submitted formal requests for their own specialized cards, Seoul had yet to do so through official channels. "Once a written proposal with specific details is submitted, we will review the fiscal, technical and fare-equity implications before making a decision," Park said. "It would be appropriate for Seoul to work out the terms within the governance framework of the Modu Card, which operates as a single national system."

Seoul said it formally applied to launch Climate Card Plus by sending an official letter to the commission Thursday morning, following a face-to-face meeting on June 12. The city also warned that the 30-day Climate Commuter Card pass would remain valid only through Aug. 29 — Aug. 31 for postpaid cardholders — and that if Climate Card Plus is not launched before the current service ends, residents will lose access to its specialized benefits. Those benefits, which Seoul said it would fund entirely, include Ttareungi bike-sharing discounts, an extension of the youth discount age ceiling from 34 to 39, a further extension to age 42 for discharged veterans, and discounts tied to cultural facilities. "If consultations with the commission are delayed, residents will be unable to use these services, making swift action necessary," the city said.

Park Ju-seon, head of the city's transportation policy division, said Seoul hopes to reach an agreement with the commission quickly "so that residents can continue to enjoy the Climate Commuter Card's specialized services without disruption."

Earlier, after Seoul announced the Climate Card Plus launch on June 17, the commission issued a clarifying statement saying it had received Seoul's request on June 5 to enroll the Climate Commuter Card in the Modu Card system and was reviewing it. The commission said it would weigh system overhaul requirements, budget implications and public convenience before deciding whether to approve the enrollment. It also said it was "regrettable that Seoul unilaterally distributed materials despite the many issues that still need to be verified."