South Korea's MOLIT K-Pass nationwide transit rebate (20% general / 30% youth / 53% low-income / 50% multi-child) and Seoul City Climate Card (62,000 KRW monthly unlimited pass) for Korean-registered riders. 2026 rates, coverage, and application guide.
| Korean tier | Refund rate | 15 trips × 1,500 KRW example |
|---|---|---|
| General | 20% | ~4,500 KRW |
| Youth (19–34) | 30% | ~6,750 KRW |
| Low-income / near-poor | 53.3% | ~11,993 KRW |
| 2 Korean children | 30% | ~6,750 KRW |
| 3+ Korean children | 50% | ~11,250 KRW |
| Card | Monthly KRW | Korean coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (subway + bus) | 62,000 | Seoul Korean subway + city bus, unlimited |
| Standard + Korean Ttareungi bike | 65,000 | + Korean public bike 'Ttareungi' |
| Korean Youth (19–39) | 55,000 | Seoul Korean youth discount |
| Youth + Ttareungi | 58,000 | + Korean public bike |
| Short-term (1/2/3/5/7 days) | 5,000–20,000 | Korean tourism / short stay |
| Criterion | K-Pass fits | Climate Card fits |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly trips | 15–40 (typical Korean commute) | 50+ (Korean commute + weekends) |
| Korean coverage | 189 Korean municipalities (national) | Seoul subway/bus/Ttareungi only |
| Discount mechanism | Post-pay rebate (~22nd next month) | Pre-pay monthly pass |
| Korean Shinbundang / airport bus | Included (refund applies) | Excluded (pay separately) |
| Best for | Korean regional bus, Seoul + Gyeonggi/Incheon commute | Internal Seoul Korean trips |
| K-Pass Korean call center | 1644-2828 |
| Seoul Dasan Call (Korea) | 120 |
| Korean T-money customer center | 1644-0088 |
| Korean card issuer customer center | Varies by issuer |
This South Korea–only summary follows Korea's MOLIT K-Pass official guidance and the Seoul Metropolitan Government Climate Card notice (as of April 2026). Korean refund rates, Korean pass prices, participating Korean municipalities, and Korean line coverage (Shinbundang / regional buses) may change with legislation and Korean municipal expansion. Korean payouts follow your card issuer's and K-Pass's tallies. The two Korean programs cannot stack — choose one and confirm at korea-pass.kr or the Seoul Korean notice before applying. Non-binding estimate; we accept no liability for errors or changes.
South Korea's K-Pass, launched May 2024 by MOLIT and the Metropolitan Transport Commission, is a nationwide Korean transit rebate for residents of 189 participating Korean municipalities. Korean riders taking 15–60 transit trips per Korean month receive refunds of 20% (general), 30% (Korean youth 19–34), 53.3% (Korean low-income / near-poor), 30% (Korean 2-children households), or 50% (3+ children). Korean card issuers auto-tally and refund around the 22nd of the next Korean month — either offset on the Korean statement or deposited to a Korean bank account. Seoul's Climate Card, a 2024 Korean pilot transitioning to full service in 2026, sells a monthly pass (62,000 KRW standard; 65,000 with Korean Ttareungi bike; Korean youth 19–39 at 55,000 KRW) that provides unlimited rides on Seoul Korean subway lines 1–9 plus Ui-Sinseol and Sillim, Seoul Korean city and maeul buses. The Korean Shinbundang Line, regional buses, and airport buses are excluded from the Climate Card but included in K-Pass. The two Korean programs cannot stack.
No stacking. Fares paid via the Korean Climate Card are excluded from K-Pass refunds, so pick one. Korean 40–50+ monthly intra-Seoul trips favor the Climate Card; Korean regional buses or Gyeonggi/Incheon commute favor K-Pass.
Korea's Altool Traffic Card closed new sign-ups on April 30, 2024 and merged into K-Pass. Existing Korean users either auto-convert or must re-apply — see the Korean 'Altool → K-Pass Transition Guide' page.
No Korean K-Pass refund under 15 trips/mo, and Korean trips over 60/mo are also excluded. The Korean window is strictly 15–60 trips, so light Korean weekend riders may not benefit.
K-Pass refunds Korean Shinbundang, Korean regional buses, and Korean airport buses. Korean Climate Card excludes them — riders pay separately.
K-Pass Korean youth is 19–34; Korean Climate Card Youth is 19–39. Korean age is rechecked each year; when you age out, Korean system auto-switches to general rates.
Log in to the Korean K-Pass app → 'Eligibility Apply' and upload the Korean basic-livelihood certificate, Korean near-poor certificate, Korean residence registration, or Korean family register. Confirmed within 1–2 weeks and the new Korean rate applies the next month.
South Korea's 2026 K-Pass is a MOLIT nationwide transit-rebate program launched May 2024 for Korean residents of 189 participating Korean municipalities. Korean refunds apply when monthly trips are 15–60: 20% general, 30% Korean youth 19–34, 53.3% Korean low-income / near-poor, 30% Korean 2-children, 50% Korean 3+ children. 11 Korean card issuers (Shinhan, Woori, KB, NH, Hana, BC, Samsung, Hyundai, Lotte, IBK, etc.) auto-tally and deposit refunds around the 22nd of the next Korean month. Seoul's Climate Card (Korean 2024 pilot, 2026 full rollout) is a monthly pass — 62,000 KRW standard (with Korean Ttareungi bike 65,000), Korean youth 19–39 at 55,000 (with bike 58,000) — granting unlimited Seoul Korean subway (lines 1–9, Ui-Sinseol, Sillim), city bus, maeul bus, and Korean Ttareungi. The Korean Shinbundang Line, regional buses, and airport buses are excluded from Climate Card but covered by K-Pass. Stacking is not allowed; Korean riders choose by trip pattern. Korea's Altool Card closed to new enrollments in April 2024 and merged into K-Pass. Inquiries: Korean K-Pass 1644-2828, Seoul Korean Dasan 120, Korean T-money 1644-0088.