Seoul Metropolitan Government proposes ordinance amendment to link transit card benefits to museum admission

Holders of climate transit cards and K-pass eligible for 50% discount on special exhibitions

Discount expected to take effect in March or April next year pending city council approval in January

Children explore the newly opened children's museum at the Seoul Museum of History in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Herald DB]
Children explore the newly opened children's museum at the Seoul Museum of History in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Herald DB]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is pushing to offer up to 50 percent discounts on admission at six city-run museums for holders of climate transit cards and the K-pass, in a move aimed at extending the benefits of public transit incentives to cultural access.

Seoul proposed the amendment to its municipal museum management and operations ordinance Thursday, citing the introduction of admission discounts linked to transit card use as a way to strengthen visitor benefits.

Under the proposed amendment, holders of the climate transit card short-term pass, the climate transit pass and the Moduui Card (K-pass) would receive up to 50 percent off museum admission. However, short-term climate transit card holders would be eligible for the discount only when carrying a valid card.

The six facilities covered are the Seoul Museum of History, Cheonggyecheon Museum, Seoul Lifestyle Museum, Hanseong Baekje Museum, Seoul Woori Soori Museum and Seoul Museum of Craft. Permanent exhibitions at city-run museums are currently free of charge; the amendment applies to ticketed special exhibitions.

Not all admission fees will automatically receive the 50 percent discount, however. The discount rate will be determined through review by each museum's operations committee.

"The discount rate will vary depending on the content of the exhibition," a Seoul city official said. "This amendment was prepared to extend cultural benefits to citizens by establishing a discount framework for city museums, following a similar measure already in place for city art museums."

Seoul plans to apply the discounts from March or April next year, pending city council approval in January. City-run museums currently offer free admission to national merit recipients, independence merit recipients, people with disabilities, children aged 7 and under, seniors aged 65 and over, and holders of the Dadungi Happy Card. Seoul also designates the fourth Sunday of each month, seollal, chuseok, Children's Day and national holidays as free admission days.

Earlier this month, Seoul Botanic Park, also operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, expanded its admission fee exemption policy. Pregnant women and mothers within six months of giving birth who reside in Seoul are now exempt from admission fees, while Seoul residents holding the climate transit pass, the Moduui Card or the K-pass — as well as valid short-term climate transit card holders — receive a 50 percent discount.


ikson@heraldcorp.com