The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that the application of ‘K-Pass’, which was scheduled to be implemented in July 2024, will be implemented from May 2024 to ease the burden of public transportation costs. At a time when the economy of the common people is deteriorating due to rising prices and transportation costs, let’s learn about the K-Pass benefits and how to apply, which can save about 20-53% on public transportation costs.K패스 신청
K-Pass
What is K-Pass?
The K-Pass, which will be implemented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport starting in May 2024, is a system that provides direct refunds to citizens who use transportation card-based public transportation such as subways, city buses, and metropolitan buses across the country in the next month according to the amount used, regardless of the distance traveled.
In other words, it is a public transportation cost support system that allows you to save a certain percentage (20-53%) of the amount spent if you use it more than 15 times a month (maximum 60 times) and get it back the next month. K-Pass is a public transportation fare refund support project that improves the inconvenience and expands the benefits of the currently implemented economical transportation card. Unlike the Climate Companion Card or Dongbaek Pass, which only apply to specific areas such as Seoul, it is applied nationwide.
K-Pass is issued up to 60 times
Applies to transportation card-based public transportation such as subway, private railway (Shinbundang Line), metropolitan bus, and city bus.
Apply nationwide
How to apply for K-Pass
There are two ways to apply for the K-Pass: using an existing economical card or signing up for a new K-Pass.
1) How to apply for economical transportation card users:
By converting to K-Pass membership, you can use your existing transportation card without reissuing a separate card.
You can use it after agreeing to the terms of use and membership conversion through the Economical Transportation Card app.
** Detailed information will be announced around February
Go to Economical Transportation Card (Android)
Go to Economical Transportation Card (iPhone)
2) How to use the new transportation card:
New users can select and use the transportation card of their choice starting in May.
Issuance method:
K-Pass Internet Homepage
mobile application
Homepages of 11 credit card companies
K-Pass discount rate
The previously used economical transportation card applied a discount rate for public transportation costs in proportion to the distance traveled (800m), but with the K-Pass, you can receive benefits as shown in the table below if you use it more than 15 times.
Example of K-Pass accumulation rate
(Based on 1,500 won) Maximum monthly refund/saving amount
(Based on 60 episodes)
General 20% 300 won 18,000 won
Youth (19 to 34 years old) 30% 450 won 27,000 won
Low income (basic livelihood recipients) 53% 800 won 48,000 won
Number of monthly uses: Refundable if used more than 15 times per month
Usage amount: Different refund rates are applied depending on the monthly usage amount.
K-Pass applicable area
K-Pass is applied nationwide. Any citizen who uses transportation card-based public transportation, such as city buses, subways, metropolitan buses, and private railways nationwide, can receive K-Pass benefits.
Expected effects of K-Pass
K-Pass is expected to provide the following benefits to ordinary people who regularly use public transportation more than 15 times a month.
First, it reduces the burden of transportation costs.
With K-Pass, you can receive a refund of 20-53% depending on the monthly usage amount. For example, an ordinary person who spends 70,000 won per month on public transportation can receive a refund of up to 37,000 won by using the K-Pass. This can greatly reduce the burden of transportation costs, which account for a significant portion of monthly living expenses.
Second, improving living conditions.
It is expected that the living conditions of ordinary people will improve if the burden of transportation costs is reduced. In particular, as the burden of transportation costs is relatively high for low-income people, it is expected that the K-Pass benefit will reduce the financial burden and improve the quality of life.
Third, it contributes to building an eco-friendly transportation system.
If public transportation usage increases through K-Pass, this will soon lead to a decrease in car usage. This is expected to contribute to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and building an eco-friendly transportation system.
In this way, K-Pass is expected to provide various benefits to ordinary people, such as reducing the burden of transportation costs, improving living conditions, and establishing an eco-friendly transportation system.