South Korea Rolls Out An Improved Climate Companion Card Combining Subway, Bus, And Hangang Bus Access With Expanded Financial Support For Families With Multiple Children And Young Commuters

Published on August 31, 2025

South Korea has unveiled an enhanced version of its Climate Companion Card, broadening access beyond subways and city buses to now include the popular Hangang River bus routes, while also increasing financial benefits for households with multiple children and young commuters. The move aims to ease daily transport costs, promote eco-friendly mobility, and strengthen social support systems for families and students navigating the country’s urban transit networks.

Seoul is taking a major step toward sustainable and convenient urban transportation by expanding the Climate Companion Card program to include the city’s newly launched Hangang Bus. This initiative provides residents with a versatile way to travel across the Han River while encouraging eco-friendly transit options. In addition to offering river transport access, the program introduces a series of tailored discounts for families with multiple children and youth, further enhancing affordability and accessibility. By combining these services, the city aims to create a more seamless, inclusive, and environmentally responsible transportation network.

Beginning on the 14th of next month, a new version of the Climate Companion Card will allow residents to ride the Hangang Bus, making it easier for citizens to integrate river travel into their daily commutes or leisure trips. At the same time, the city is rolling out expanded discount options for groups that include young residents, parents with multiple children, and low-income households. These targeted discounts reflect a conscious effort to address disparities in public transport costs while encouraging broader use of sustainable transit modes.

The Hangang Bus is a river ferry service running along the Han River, connecting several key terminals across the city. Designed to serve both daily commuters and leisure travelers, it provides a practical yet enjoyable way to navigate the river. The service officially begins on September 18, with one-way fares set at 3,000 won for adults, 1,800 won for teenagers, and 1,100 won for children. By including the Hangang Bus in the Climate Companion Card program, the city allows residents to seamlessly combine subway, bus, and river travel, offering a convenient, scenic, and eco-friendly transportation option.

The Hangang Bus-compatible Climate Companion Card adds 5,000 won to the cost of the standard 30-day unlimited subway and bus pass. For residents who previously paid 60,000 won for unlimited access to subways and buses, the new card allows them to include the Hangang Bus for a total of 67,000 won. The city also plans to explore options for including the Hangang Bus in short-term Climate Companion Card programs, providing greater flexibility for tourists and short-term users who wish to experience river travel without committing to a full monthly pass.

Discounts under the new system target youth aged 13 to 18, parents with two or more children, and low-income households. Specifically, the 30-day unlimited pass rates are set at 55,000 won for youth, 55,000 won for parents with two children, 45,000 won for parents with three or more children, and 45,000 won for low-income households. By extending these benefits, the city aims to make public transport more affordable and inclusive, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent access to essential and sustainable transit options.

Until now, the Climate Companion Card offered a 55,000 won discount exclusively to adults between 19 and 39, leaving younger teens to pay the same rates as older commuters. Recognizing the imbalance, the city has redesigned the discount system to include teenagers and younger residents, allowing them to enjoy significant fare reductions. This change not only makes public transit more affordable for youth but also encourages early adoption of sustainable commuting habits, helping to decrease dependence on private vehicles. By focusing on young users, the city is also promoting long-term environmental gains through the cultivation of eco-friendly travel patterns.

The Hangang Bus itself is designed with both efficiency and user experience in mind. The ferry terminals are strategically located to serve key transit hubs along the river, allowing passengers to seamlessly connect with existing subway and bus lines. The service provides a unique travel experience, combining functionality with scenic views, creating a transit option that is both practical for daily use and attractive for leisure outings. As the city continues to expand urban waterway transit, residents gain a choice that complements traditional land-based transportation while promoting environmental sustainability.

The Climate Companion Card, now extended to include Hangang Bus rides, goes beyond cost savings to promote fairness in public transportation. Families with multiple children gain significant fare reductions, helping to ease the financial strain of school and extracurricular expenses. Teenagers benefit from dedicated youth discounts, ensuring they can travel for education or social activities without paying full adult rates. Low-income residents also receive specialized support, reflecting the city’s commitment to equal access for all income groups. By designing the card’s advantages around these targeted populations, the city boosts overall ridership while fostering a more inclusive and equitable transit system.

The expansion of the Climate Companion Card is not limited to residents of the immediate urban area. Individuals living in neighboring municipalities participating in the program also receive the same benefits. This regional approach creates a more integrated transportation network that extends beyond city limits, encouraging commuting and leisure travel across a wider geographic area. By connecting multiple municipalities under a shared transit policy, the city fosters cooperation, convenience, and broader access to sustainable transportation options. This regional inclusion also supports economic activity, as easier movement between urban and suburban areas stimulates local commerce and tourism.

In addition to practical benefits, the program emphasizes environmental responsibility. By encouraging use of public transportation over private vehicles, the Climate Companion Card reduces traffic congestion, lowers carbon emissions, and helps the city move toward climate-friendly mobility goals. The addition of river transport via the Hangang Bus enhances this sustainability effort, providing an alternative transit route that is both scenic and efficient. As more residents adopt the Climate Companion Card, the city anticipates measurable reductions in urban pollution and improvements in quality of life along the river corridor.

South Korea has upgraded its Climate Companion Card to cover subways, buses, and Hangang buses, while boosting financial aid for multi-child families and young commuters to cut travel costs and encourage eco-friendly mobility.

Overall, the introduction of the Hangang Bus version of the Climate Companion Card represents a comprehensive strategy to improve urban transit, enhance affordability, and promote sustainability. By combining waterway travel with expanded discounts for youth, families, and low-income households, the city creates a system that is flexible, equitable, and environmentally conscious. This initiative reinforces the value of integrated public transportation networks and demonstrates a clear commitment to meeting the diverse needs of all residents while fostering sustainable urban mobility.