A ‘card recognition system’ standard for transportation cards is established and ready for usage starting next year. This new system allows all transportation cards to be used anywhere throughout the Korea. 

On Oct. 29, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), MOCIE (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy) has presented a KS standard for a ‘card recognition system’ (SAM: Secure Application Module) to enable transportation cards to be used throughout Korea. 

Transportation cards are currently used in Seoul, Pusan, Daejeon, Gwangju and Incheon, but each city uses different SAMs, so cards used in one city cannot be used in another. 

The KS standard established by KATS is based on ISO international standards and is developed by Korea Electronic Payment Forum. The current five different transportation cards including K-cash are will soon be utilized in each district. 

If SAM standards are to be enacted to KS, the revised SAM will be applied to the ‘new transportation card system’ managed by Seoul Metropolitan Government and Korea Highway Corporation. This standard is expected to be used starting next year. 

(The rest is omitted) 
Source : Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Oct. 28, 2003