Overview
- The transport ministry has opened bidding to commission a feasibility study that starts this month and runs through the end of 2026.
- An open-loop setup would allow buses and subways to accept overseas-issued cards on global networks such as Visa and Mastercard.
- The study will estimate required budgets, define who pays, and map the hardware and software upgrades needed for deployment.
- Officials expect a phased rollout in coordination with local governments and operators, with first implementations possible in 2027 if approved.
- Seoul is pursuing a separate plan targeting completion by 2030 as foreign arrivals reached 15.82 million in January–October, up 15.2 percent year over year.