Card targets residents aged 65 and older in North Chungcheong Province

One card covers free rides on Greater Seoul subways and light rail

Applications available at Shinhan Bank branches and Shinhan Card's dedicated ARS line

Lee Myeong-sik (left), chairman of the Korea Senior Citizens Association's North Chungcheong chapter, North Chungcheong Province Governor Shin Yong-han (center), and Shinhan Card President Park Chang-hun pose after signing an MOU for the North Chungcheong Senior Pass project at N Ford Hotel in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Wednesday. [Shinhan Card]
Lee Myeong-sik (left), chairman of the Korea Senior Citizens Association's North Chungcheong chapter, North Chungcheong Province Governor Shin Yong-han (center), and Shinhan Card President Park Chang-hun pose after signing an MOU for the North Chungcheong Senior Pass project at N Ford Hotel in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Wednesday. [Shinhan Card]

Elderly residents of North Chungcheong Province aged 65 and older will no longer need to obtain a single-use free-ride ticket each time they use subways or light rail in the Greater Seoul area. Shinhan Card has launched the "North Chungcheong Senior Pass," a single card enabling free rides on metropolitan rail.

Shinhan Card announced Thursday the release of the North Chungcheong Senior Pass, a free transit card for residents of North Chungcheong Province aged 65 and older. The company signed an MOU with North Chungcheong Province and the Korea Senior Citizens Association's North Chungcheong chapter on Wednesday at N Ford Hotel in Cheongju to advance the project.

The card is valid on subways and light rail lines across Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Previously, elderly residents of North Chungcheong Province had to obtain a single-use free-ride ticket to travel on Greater Seoul rail, but they can now ride free using only the card. For buses, taxis and other fare-based transportation, users must load funds onto the card in advance.

Growing demand among older residents for Greater Seoul rail travel has also driven the card's introduction. Recent infrastructure developments — including the double-tracking of the Jungang Line and the opening of the Jungbu Inland Line — have made it easier to travel from North Chungcheong Province to the capital region.

The elderly population in North Chungcheong Province has been rising steadily. Provincial statistics show the number of residents aged 65 and older grew from 288,148 in 2020 to 368,000 in 2025, reaching 380,444 as of May this year.

"Drawing on our experience operating senior transit card programs, we plan to provide genuine transportation convenience to some 380,000 elderly residents in North Chungcheong Province," a Shinhan Card official said. "We will continue expanding cooperation with local communities and pursuing inclusive finance to improve financial access for older adults."

Shinhan Card already operates senior transit card programs in Seoul, Incheon, South Chungcheong Province, Daegu and Busan. The card can be obtained by visiting any Shinhan Bank branch nationwide or by applying through Shinhan Card's dedicated ARS line. Applicants must hold a Shinhan Bank account in their own name.


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