A new unlimited K-Pass card will be introduced, allowing users to get a full refund on any public transportation expenses exceeding the refund threshold amount within a month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Metropolitan Area Transportation Committee announced on the 15th that it would expand the public transportation fare refund support project (K-Pass) to significantly reduce the transportation costs for public transportation users.
The K-Pass, which has been in operation since May last year, allows users who use public transportation more than 15 times a month to receive a refund of a certain percentage (20% to 53.3%) of their expenses. The Metropolitan Area Transportation Committee will introduce the ‘Everyone’s Card,’ which allows users to get a full refund on any public transportation expenses exceeding the refund threshold amount within a month. This is expected to significantly reduce the transportation costs for frequent public transportation users, such as commuters and students.
The refund threshold amount will be applied differently by region, considering the state of public transportation infrastructure, so that users in areas with relatively poor public transportation can also benefit. The types of cards will be divided into general and plus types, considering the different fares for different transportation modes. The general type will apply to transportation modes with a total usage fee of less than 3000 won per trip, including transfer fees, while the plus type will apply to all transportation modes.
Users can continue to use their existing K-Pass cards without issuing a new card, and the system will automatically apply the most beneficial refund method based on the user’s monthly usage. Considering that users’ lifestyle patterns vary each month due to factors such as school admission, employment, vacations, and holidays, the system will automatically apply the refund method that provides the greatest benefit based on the total usage amount for the month, rather than requiring users to choose a refund method in advance.