1. Which transportation card should a visitor buy?
Best general choice: T-money
For most international visitors, a physical T-money card is the simplest option. It is a rechargeable prepaid card that can be used on most subways, city buses and other local public transportation systems throughout Korea. It can also be used in many taxis and participating convenience stores or other businesses displaying the T-money logo.
T-money is especially recommended when your trip includes more than one city, such as:
- Seoul
- Incheon
- Busan
- Jeju
- Gyeongju
- Daegu
- Daejeon
- Sokcho or Gangneung
You normally do not need to buy a separate card when moving from Seoul to another Korean city.
Korea Tour Card
The Korea Tour Card is a tourist-oriented version of T-money. It performs the same basic transportation function and may offer discounts at participating tourist attractions or stores. The officially listed card price is ₩4,000, not including transportation credit.
Remember that the card price and the transportation balance are separate.
Example:
- Card: ₩4,000
- Transportation balance loaded onto the card: ₩30,000
- Total paid: ₩34,000
The ₩30,000 can be used for transportation, while the ₩4,000 is the cost of the physical card.
2. Where can travelers buy a T-money card?
T-money and similar prepaid transportation cards are sold at convenience stores throughout Korea and at many subway stations or transportation-card sales locations.
Look for convenience stores such as:
- CU
- GS25
- 7-Eleven
- emart24
At Incheon International Airport, travelers can usually find transportation cards at airport convenience stores and transportation-related sales locations. The Korea Tour Card is also officially sold through designated convenience stores and an Incheon Airport bus-ticket office.
Useful Korean phrase
“T-money card juseyo.”
티머니 카드 주세요.
“Please give me a T-money card.”
You can also show the words T-money or 티머니 on your phone.
3. How much money should be loaded initially?
A practical starting amount for an adult traveler is:
- ₩20,000: Two or three days with moderate use
- ₩30,000: Approximately four to six days
- ₩50,000: A week with frequent subway and bus travel
These are planning estimates rather than fixed packages. You can add more money whenever the balance becomes low.
For reference, Seoul’s posted adult base fare is ₩1,550 by transportation card for the subway, while a regular trunk or branch city bus is generally ₩1,500. Longer journeys can include distance-based charges.
A traveler taking four ordinary rides per day might spend roughly ₩6,000–₩8,000 daily, depending on distance and transfers.
4. How to add money to the card
You can recharge a physical T-money card at:
- Convenience-store counters
- Subway-station card-reloading machines
- Certain transportation service centers
At a convenience store, hand the card and Korean cash to the cashier and state the amount you want to add.
Useful Korean phrases
“Isipman won chungjeon haejuseyo.”
이만 원 충전해 주세요.
“Please load ₩20,000.”
“Samman won chungjeon haejuseyo.”
삼만 원 충전해 주세요.
“Please load ₩30,000.”
For an ordinary physical T-money card, carrying Korean cash remains the safest approach because payment methods differ by machine and store, and acceptance of overseas cards is not universal. Seoul has expanded international-card payment at selected machines, but the 2026 expansion initially applies mainly to short-term Climate Cards and single-journey subway tickets.
Do not wait until the balance is completely empty. Add money when the remaining balance falls below approximately ₩5,000.
5. How to use T-money on the subway
Entering the station
- Find the subway entrance and follow the signs for your line.
- Place the card flat on the card-reader area of the turnstile.
- Wait for the beep and confirmation light.
- Walk through the gate.
The display normally shows the deducted fare or your remaining balance.
Leaving the station
- At your destination, follow the exit signs.
- Tap the same card on the exit gate.
- The system calculates the final distance-based fare.
- Walk through after the gate opens.
You must use the same card for entry and exit. Each traveler should carry a separate card because the subway system records where each card enters and exits.
If the gate does not open, do not jump over it or repeatedly tap the card. Look for the staffed gate or press the assistance button.
6. Using the card from Incheon Airport
The T-money card can be used on the AREX All-Stop Train, which serves stations such as Gimpo Airport, Hongik University and Seoul Station. The non-stop AREX Express Train has its own reserved ticketing system, so travelers should purchase an Express Train ticket separately.
Some airport limousine and night buses require a separately purchased ticket and may not accept payment onboard with cash or a transportation card. Always check the specific airport-bus route before boarding.
7. How to use T-money on a city bus
When boarding
- Enter through the front door.
- Tap the card on the reader near the driver.
- Wait for the confirmation beep.
- Find a seat or hold a handrail.
Before getting off
- Watch the information screen or listen to the stop announcement.
- Press a red stop button before your stop.
- Move toward the rear door.
- Tap the card on the reader beside the exit.
- Exit through the rear door.
Tapping when leaving the bus is essential. It calculates distance charges and allows the system to apply a transfer discount.
8. How transfer discounts work
In Seoul, a transportation-card user can transfer between buses and subways within 30 minutes after tapping out. The transfer window is extended to 60 minutes between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Seoul permits up to four transfers, creating a maximum of five connected rides under the integrated fare rules. Transfers to the same bus route generally do not qualify.
A transfer is not necessarily completely free. The system applies the highest base fare and may add distance charges when the total journey exceeds the base-distance allowance.
Example
- Subway from Myeongdong to Hongik University
- Tap out at Hongik University
- Board a local bus within 30 minutes
- Tap on when boarding and tap off when leaving
The system treats this as a connected journey instead of charging two entirely separate base fares.
9. Can one card be shared?
On some city buses, the driver can charge several passengers to one card when the passenger tells the driver the number of people before tapping. However, this makes transfers complicated, and multi-passenger subway transfers are not supported in the same way.
For tourists, the best rule is:
One transportation card per traveler.
This avoids gate errors, transfer problems and incorrect fares.
10. Children and teenagers
Travelers under age 18 may qualify for reduced transportation fares, but their birth date must be registered when the card is purchased or configured. Ask the convenience-store employee whether youth registration is available and be prepared to show identification.
A parent can say:
“Cheongsonyeon yogeum deungnok haejuseyo.”
청소년 요금 등록해 주세요.
“Please register the youth fare.”
In Seoul, children under age six accompanied by an adult may travel free under applicable conditions.
11. Using T-money in taxis and stores
Many Korean taxis have a transportation-card reader. At the end of the ride, tell the driver that you want to pay with T-money and place the card on the reader.
Useful phrase:
“T-money-ro gyeoljehalgeyo.”
티머니로 결제할게요.
“I will pay with T-money.”
The card can also be used at participating convenience stores, cafés, bakeries and other merchants that display the T-money logo.
This is useful when you have a small balance remaining at the end of your trip—you may be able to use it to buy drinks, snacks or other small items.
12. How to check the balance
Your remaining balance is normally displayed whenever you:
- Enter or exit a subway gate
- Tap on or off a bus
- Recharge the card at a machine
- Ask an employee at a convenience store
You can say:
“Janaek hwagin haejuseyo.”
잔액 확인해 주세요.
“Please check the remaining balance.”
Keep the card away from other contactless cards when tapping. If several NFC or payment cards are held together, the reader may detect the wrong card or display an error.
13. Refunds before leaving Korea
A remaining T-money balance can generally be refunded in cash at participating T-money sales or recharge locations, although the available refund amount, location and service fee can vary. Present the card and tell the employee that you would like a refund.
Useful phrase:
“T-money janaek hwanbul haejuseyo.”
티머니 잔액 환불해 주세요.
“Please refund the remaining T-money balance.”
The cost of purchasing the physical card is normally separate from its stored transportation balance. It is often simpler to use a small remaining amount at a participating convenience store rather than searching for a refund location.
14. An alternative for travelers staying only in Seoul: Climate Card
The Climate Card short-term pass offers unlimited travel within its designated Seoul service area.
Current short-term prices are:
- 1 day: ₩5,000
- 2 days: ₩8,000
- 3 days: ₩10,000
- 5 days: ₩15,000
- 7 days: ₩20,000
A physical Climate Card costs an additional ₩3,000.
The Climate Card can be a good value when you stay mainly in Seoul and take several rides every day. However, it does not cover every railway or bus service. Exclusions include the Sinbundang Line, many subway areas outside Seoul, airport and intercity buses, and buses not licensed by Seoul.
International Visa and Mastercard payments are accepted for short-term Climate Card purchase or recharge at designated new machines on Seoul Metro Lines 1–8. An average service charge of approximately 3.7% may apply.
Simple choice
- Traveling around Korea or visiting several cities: Buy T-money.
- Staying only in Seoul and riding frequently: Compare the Climate Card.
- Taking only one or two subway rides: A single-journey ticket may be enough, but it costs ₩100 more than the corresponding transportation-card fare and cannot be used on buses.
Essential checklist
Before leaving the airport:
- Obtain some Korean cash.
- Buy one T-money card per traveler.
- Load approximately ₩20,000–₩30,000 initially.
- Use the AREX All-Stop Train or another appropriate service.
- Tap both when entering and leaving.
- Recharge before the balance becomes too low.
- Keep the card until the end of the trip.
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