T-money & transit cards basics

What is T-money?

T-money is Korea’s widely used reloadable transit payment product. A physical card (and some mobile options) works on subway and city buses nationwide in many cities, plus many taxis and T-money–logo convenience stores / cafés. Start from the English hub: eng.tmoney.co.kr. (`www.t-money.co.kr` often fails to load — prefer the `eng.tmoney` / `tmoney.co.kr` hosts below.)

Getting a physical card

• Everyday T-money cards sell at convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and others such as Emart24) and at many Seoul Metro information centers (Lines 1–8). Visit Korea lists a typical card price around ₩3,000–₩5,000 (product designs vary).
• Tourist-oriented T-money products are optional. Official foreigner page: Tmoney Travel Card (lists a Travel Card around ₩4,000 at convenience stores / Incheon Airport bus ticket office). KOREA TOUR CARD (legacy physical tourist card) is discontinued for purchase on that same page — existing holders may still see partner benefits.
• Optional all-in-one prepaid cards such as WOWPASS combine transit (T-money balance) with shopping / FX features — compare fees and top-up rules; none are required. Broader card comparison: Visit Korea — Transportation Cards (updated Aug 2026).
• Keep any sleeve / receipt if your product has a deposit or refund path.

How to ride

1. 1
   Tap in at the subway gate or bus reader.
2. 2
   Tap out on subway (and when the bus system requires it) so distance fare calculates correctly.
3. 3
   Transfers within the allowed window can cut the total — windows and discounts change; trust station/app prompts and staff over blog numbers.
4. 4
   Keep a balance buffer so you are not stuck at a gate mid-journey.

Fares are distance-based. Prefer live estimates in Naver Map / KakaoMap or Seoul Metro (EN) over any fixed won amount in a guide.

Top-up & refunds

• Top-up: commonly cash (KRW) at convenience stores and subway reload machines / information desks. Follow machine prompts; maximum stored balance is commonly capped (Visit Korea cites ₩500,000 max on T-money).
• Refunds differ by product and amount. Visit Korea notes refunds over ₩50,000 for standard T-money generally need Tmoney Town (near Seoul Station Exit 10); smaller balances are often handled at convenience stores — ask staff and keep the card. WOWPASS / Travel Card refund paths follow their app or kiosk rules, not the same counter every time.
• Spend down leftover balance before departure when refund logistics look messy.

Mobile options (hedge by phone / region)

Mobile T-money can work, but support depends on your phone, OS, NFC, app version, and which foreign card brands the app accepts that week. Do not skip a physical card until you have tested a successful top-up and gate tap.

• iPhone / Apple Watch: Official MobileTmoney (Tmoney Co., Ltd) markets a traveler path — add a mobile card, top up via Apple Pay, tap for transit. App listing (What’s New 2026-09-01) cites Apple Pay top-up with Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB; Visa support is not claimed there and traveler reports often fail on Visa — check the live app before you rely on it. Device floors in the listing include recent iPhone / Watch + recent iOS / watchOS.
• Android: Tmoney’s English mobile page describes KOREA TOUR CARD Tmoney (HCE app for foreigners; NFC Android) as a phone-based option when a Korean USIM is unavailable. Availability, store listing name, and card-brand support change — confirm in Google Play on your device.
• Domestic wallets (Samsung Wallet, etc.) are aimed at residents with Korean payment rails — visitors should not assume they work.

What T-money is *not*

• KTX / most reserved long-distance Korail seats still use Korail ticketing — do not assume a city T-money balance replaces a train ticket.
• Some express / airport products and unlimited city passes are separate products (see Visit Korea’s transportation-card page if you want a pass-style option).

Visitor tips

• Load enough for a city day plus a buffer; top up when you see a convenience store, not when the gate beeps empty.
• If a fare looks wrong after a transfer, ask station staff before leaving the paid area.
• Related wiki: Subway basics, Airport to city, Essential apps, Payment troubles.

Tip

Product names, prices, app brand lists, and refund counters change. When wording differs, prefer eng.tmoney.co.kr, the foreign Travel Card page, and Visit Korea Transportation Cards.