KUALA LUMPUR - Seoul’s subway system will start accepting overseas-issued credit and debit cards for buying and recharging transport cards from March 17 to make it easier for foreign visitors to use public transport.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said 440 new transport card kiosks will be installed at 273 stations on Subway Lines 1 to 8, allowing payments by foreign cards as well as mobile apps such as Kakao Pay and Naver Pay.

The new service will begin when subway operations start on March 17, the city said.

At first, the machines will support payments for the Seoul Climate Card, which allows unlimited bus and subway travel within the city, as well as short-term passes from one to seven days.

Depending on demand, the city plans to expand the system to include a 30 day pass in the future.

A 3.7% service fee will be charged for payments made with overseas-issued cards, according to the city government.

The city will also set up promotional booths at Seoul Station, Hongdae Station and Myeong-dong Station to provide information about the Climate Card.

The booths will operate on March 17, March 20 and March 21, as more international visitors are expected ahead of a BTS comeback event on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square.

“The Climate Card has recorded more than 18 million cumulative recharges and has become one of Seoul’s most widely recognised public transit policies.

“We will continue improving services to make public transportation more convenient for international visitors,” a city official said.