Charging My Climate Card with a Credit Card: An iPhone User's Transportation Dilemma
Credit Card Charging Introduced: The Climate Card Finally Becomes More Convenient
I charged my Climate Card with a credit card. The Climate Card, which previously could only be charged with cash, finally supports credit card charging, which is welcome news for those who prefer digital payments. I personally tried charging my Climate Card with a credit card at Seoul City Hall Station, and the process was really simple and convenient.
However, before this change, even while carrying the latest iPhone, I still had to carry a separate transportation card, which was inconvenient. In particular, even though Apple Pay has been introduced in Korea, the transportation card function is not supported, so iPhone users still had to use physical transportation cards. Moreover, despite the Climate Card having the wonderful goal of environmental protection and encouraging the use of public transportation, it actually caused inconvenience because it only allowed cash charging.
Modern iPhone, Analog Transportation System
It was ironic to have to carry a physical transportation card in Korea, even while using the latest technology of the iPhone and Apple Pay. The Climate Card, in particular, is an innovative card that allows you to save on public transportation fares. However, requiring cash made it a major hurdle for modern people who are accustomed to digital payments.
For example, it was really inconvenient to have to withdraw cash to top up my card if I suddenly ran out of balance on my transportation card on my way to work. In an era where digital payments are commonplace, this method felt anachronistic.
The Credit Card Charging Process
Now that it's possible to charge the Climate Card with a credit card, this inconvenience has been greatly alleviated. The charging process I personally experienced was as follows:
- Find a charger: I went to find a charger installed at Seoul City Hall Station. The screen displayed a message saying, "Credit card payment is only available for Climate Cards."
- Select payment method: I selected a credit card as the payment method on the charger's screen. It also supported mobile payment systems like Samsung Pay.
- Enter the charging amount: I selected the desired charging amount (e.g., 5,000 won) and pressed the confirm button.
- Payment complete: I inserted my credit card and after waiting for a few seconds, the message "Charging complete" appeared, and the amount was immediately reflected on my card.
The payment process was really simple, and it was very convenient to be able to charge it right away without having to carry cash. It was a truly welcome change for people who prefer digital payments.
Limitations of Apple Pay Not Supporting Transportation Cards
However, it is still disappointing that Apple Pay is not yet linked to the transportation system in Korea. This is because Korea's transportation system uses a proprietary system (T-money, Cashbee, etc.) rather than NFC-based international standards. Due to this structural issue, iPhone users still need to carry a physical transportation card.
In modern society, where digital payments are commonplace, this limitation is also criticized as being out of step with the pace of technological development. If Apple Pay were linked to Korea's transportation system, more people could conveniently use public transportation. As of now, we can only wait for that day to come.
Review and Expectations
With the credit card charging function, I no longer have to carry cash, and I can save time. This is a very useful feature, especially for me who prefers digital payments. I hope this feature will be available in more stations in the future.
However, if Apple Pay were linked to the transportation system, more people could conveniently use public transportation. I look forward to these problems being resolved with the advancement of technology.
In Conclusion...
The Climate Card is a great way to save on transportation costs within Seoul. I felt like it even changed my lifestyle, making me use public transportation without worrying about costs even for short distances or when I was headed out to Karrot Market to conduct a second-hand sale. With its now easy-to-use credit card charging system, usability has increased. I look forward to it developing into a better system linked with the latest technology, such as Apple Pay.
