Starting September 1, 2026, the K-Pass benefits used by Seoul citizens will be significantly expanded. An enhanced service will be implemented in which the city of Seoul adds its own funding to the K-Pass, a national transportation subsidy card operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Existing K-Pass users will automatically have the benefits reflected on September 1 without any separate application or card reissuance.

■ Seoul Citizens Aged 35–39 Newly Included in Youth Benefits The biggest change in this revision is the age criteria for youth benefits. The standard K-Pass youth criteria covers ages 19 to 34, but Seoul residents aged 35 to 39 will now be able to receive youth-type benefits. Seoul has structured this as a region-specific benefit by adding its own funding to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport subsidies, newly including users in their late 30s who were previously excluded from the youth criteria.

■ Usage Expanded Nationwide to All K-Pass Affiliated Routes The scope of usage will be broadly applied to all K-Pass affiliated routes. In addition to city buses and subways nationwide, the usage includes express buses, the Shinbundang Line, GTX, and airport railways, allowing users to receive benefits even when traveling outside of Seoul.

■ Postpaid Settlement Structure… Refund After 15 Rides Per Month The refund method follows the K-Pass's unique postpaid settlement structure. Rather than precharging fares like a commuter pass, the fare is paid each time you ride, and a refund is provided based on monthly usage. The refund calculation automatically applies the more advantageous of either a flat-rate or fixed-amount method, and users must use public transportation at least 15 times per month to be eligible for a refund. However, the usage count requirement is waived for the first month of initial enrollment, minimizing the burden on new registrants.

■ Issuance, Sign-Up, and Registration Handled at Once on the Toss App An issuance pathway is also available for users who have not yet registered for K-Pass. On the Toss app, K-Pass check card issuance, membership sign-up, and card registration can all be processed at once. After entering the card name in the in-app search bar, applying according to the instructions, and completing residency verification, the process is finished. Card ownership is available starting from age 7 for those with a Toss Bank account. However, age criteria differ for each feature—the postpaid transportation function is available from age 12, while K-Pass membership and transportation refunds are available from age 19—so it is necessary to check before applying.

■ Additional 2,000 Won Cashback When Spending 40,000 Won or More Per Month Through September 30 Those who spend 40,000 won or more on monthly public transportation through September 30, 2026, will receive an additional 2,000 won cashback on the 25th of the following month, separate from the K-Pass refund. Even those already using another card company's K-Pass can change their registered card through the Toss app's easy transfer service without accessing a separate app or website, and riding records prior to the change are combined so that refund benefits are not interrupted.

■ Existing Users Need No Action; New Users Encouraged to Prepare in August Existing K-Pass users will receive Seoul's specialized benefits starting September 1 without any separate action. For users who do not yet have a card, preparing in advance in August—considering the time required for issuance and registration—is a way to minimize gaps in usage. In particular, Seoul citizens aged 35 to 39 are newly included in the youth benefit target through this revision, so it is recommended to check their age eligibility and residency registration status in advance.

[Detailed application criteria, issuance procedures, and refund conditions may change around the implementation date, so please confirm final details through announcements from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, or the respective card company before applying and using the service. AI assisted with portions of this article.]