Hot Potato 'Seoul Climate Companion Card'... Gyeonggi and Incheon National Assembly Audit Controversy Spreads

Public Safety Committee Member "Sympathizes with Purpose but Feels Regret"
Gyeonggi-do Today, Incheon City on the 19th Respectively National Audit

At the National Assembly audit, concerns were raised that the success of Seoul City's ambitious unlimited public transportation pass, the 'Climate Companion Card,' depends on collaboration with Gyeonggi Province and Incheon City. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties agreed with the policy's intent but criticized the lack of communication between local governments. Currently, Gyeonggi and Incheon are reviewing related matters, drawing attention to their stance in upcoming audits of these local governments.

The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee will conduct audits for Gyeonggi Province on the 17th and Incheon City on the 19th. The Climate Companion Card is expected to be a key issue in these audits, as it was a major topic during Seoul City's audit on the 16th. The Climate Companion Card, piloted from January to May next year, is a fixed-rate pass costing 65,000 KRW per month that allows unlimited use of Seoul's public transportation, including buses and subways. Its goals are to alleviate the burden of rising public transportation fares and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased usage.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is responding during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Seoul City held at Seoul City Hall on the 16th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Members of the Public Administration and Security Committee mostly agreed with the purpose of the Climate Companion Card but expressed regret over the lack of prior consultation with Gyeonggi and Incheon. Lee Man-hee, a member of the People Power Party, said, "The Climate Companion Card would have true meaning if the metropolitan area, including Gyeonggi Province and Incheon City, were included, so it is regrettable." Lee Hae-sik of the Democratic Party added, "Seoul City proposed consultations only four days before the announcement," noting, "Because of this, Gyeonggi and Incheon are currently very dissatisfied."

According to Seoul City and others, the first consultative meeting for the Climate Companion Card was held on the 26th of last month at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office, attended by Seoul City's Transportation Planning Officer and the Transportation Directors of Gyeonggi and Incheon, and continuous contact has been maintained since. A Seoul City official stated, "Gyeonggi and Incheon requested various data, which we have provided, and we understand they are currently reviewing it."

However, it is uncertain whether Gyeonggi and Incheon will readily participate in the project. Seoul City is aware of this issue. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon explained during the audit, "If we had waited to complete perfect consultations with Gyeonggi and Incheon before starting this pilot project, it would probably have been difficult to launch the pilot in the first half of next year." He added, "Especially in Gyeonggi Province, the semi-public bus system is not properly implemented, and there are also metropolitan buses, making fare calculation difficult."

Seoul City expects to spend 75 billion KRW on the Climate Companion Card pilot project, benefiting approximately 500,000 people. It is estimated that about 2 million people live in Gyeonggi or Incheon but commute to Seoul for school or work. Since metropolitan buses in Gyeonggi and Incheon have a base fare of 3,000 KRW, which is more expensive than city buses, Gyeonggi and Incheon will have to bear significantly higher costs.

A Seoul City official said, "In Gyeonggi and Incheon, each city and county operates differently?some with public, semi-public, or private systems?so internal review will take more time," adding, "Seoul City will continue to request their participation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.