How to Get a T-money Card in Korea (and Top It Up)

What is T-money?

T-money is Korea's rechargeable transit card. You load money onto it, tap it on the reader, and the fare comes off the balance. It also works outside Seoul — Busan's subway and buses accept it, for example — and on taxis. Transfer rules differ from city to city.

You don't have to use one: you can buy single-journey subway tickets at station machines — with cash, or with an overseas Visa or Mastercard at the newer machines on Lines 1–8 (about 3.7% card fee). But a card is cheaper on the subway, and you need one to get the transfer discount between buses and the subway.

Smaller green local (village) buses cost ₩1,200, and red rapid buses ₩3,000.

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — subway fares (in effect since June 28, 2025) and bus fares; checked Oct 22, 2026.

Paying a bus fare in cash is getting harder: Seoul listed 183 cash-free bus routes as of January 2026, so plan to pay buses with a card.

Source: Seoul — cash-free bus routes (Korean), checked Oct 22, 2026.

Where to buy a T-money card

The surest place is a convenience store. T-money lists GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, MINISTOP, Story Way and 365PLUS as sellers. Ask at the counter for a "T-money card".

• Price: about ₩3,000–₩5,000, depending on the design. Basic cards are ₩3,000 when the store has them.
• The price is for the card only. Top it up before your first ride.
• The card price isn't included in balance refunds — you only get back the money loaded on it.

Source: T-money — card types and prices, T-money guide for foreign visitors and Korea Tourism Organization; checked Oct 22, 2026.

The Korea Tourism Organization says information centers in Seoul subway stations on Lines 1–8 also sell cards, but T-money's own guide for visitors lists subway stations as top-up points only. A convenience store is the surest bet.

How to top it up

Top-ups at convenience stores and subway station machines are made with Korean won cash. You can top up:

• at any convenience store counter that sells T-money — hand over the card and the cash, and say how much you want to add
• at the top-up machines and information centers in subway stations

The rules:

• ₩1,000 to ₩90,000 per top-up, in ₩1,000 steps
• A card can hold up to ₩500,000

Source: T-money guide for foreign visitors, checked Oct 22, 2026.

How transfers work (and how to save money)

In Seoul, when you switch between the subway and a bus, or between two buses, the trip is charged as one journey instead of a new base fare for each ride (extra distance charges can still apply). To get it:

1. Tap the card when you get on and when you get off the bus. In Seoul, tapping off is required for the transfer discount.
2. Make the transfer within 30 minutes of getting off — or within 60 minutes between 9 pm and 7 am.
3. Re-boarding the same bus route doesn't count as a transfer.
4. One trip can include up to four transfers (five rides).

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government, checked Oct 22, 2026.

Mistakes to avoid

• Not tapping off the bus. Your next ride is then charged as a new trip instead of a discounted transfer.
• Tapping your whole wallet. With several contactless cards together, the reader may not read the right one. Take the T-money card out and tap it on its own.
• Loading too much at the end of your trip. Some refund points charge a fee, and larger balances are hard for visitors to refund (see below).

Getting your money back before you fly home

You can cash out the money left on the card:

At T-money Town:

• Refunds of ₩50,000 or more require an identity check (name, date of birth and contact details).
• Refunds of ₩100,000 or more are paid into a Korean bank account after 6 pm on the next business day (not weekends or public holidays). Bring ID and a copy of your bankbook for this.

Bank ATM refunds also exist, but they need a Korean bank account in your own name. Check the official refund rules before you go.

If you don't have a Korean bank account, keep your balance low near the end of your trip.

Source: T-money refund rules (Korean), checked Oct 22, 2026.

Using T-money outside Seoul

T-money also works outside Seoul. In Busan, it's accepted on the subway and buses, and bus–subway transfers within 30 minutes are discounted. Seoul's transfer rules don't automatically apply elsewhere — check the local rules. Busan's subway fare with a card is ₩1,600–₩1,800 depending on distance (as listed by Busan Transportation Corporation).

Source: Busan Transportation Corporation, checked Oct 22, 2026.

Paying for taxis

Taxis in Korea generally accept cash, credit cards and transit cards such as T-money.

Source: Korea Tourism Organization — Taxis, checked Oct 22, 2026.

T-money or a Climate Card pass?

If you'll spend most of your trip in Seoul, Seoul's Climate Card short-term pass is the main alternative. It gives unlimited rides for a set number of days:

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card, checked Oct 22, 2026.

The physical card costs ₩3,000 extra. The pass starts on the day you load it, and a 1-day pass lasts until that day's last bus or subway — not 24 hours. You can pay for these passes with an overseas Visa or Mastercard — since March 17, 2026 also at 440 new ticket machines on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8 (about 3.7% card fee).

What it doesn't cover: the Sinbundang Line, subway lines outside Seoul, buses not licensed by Seoul, airport and intercity buses, and taxis. At Incheon Airport you can only get off with it — you can't board the AREX train there. Coverage changed on October 1, 2026 — several Gyeonggi Province sections were removed — so check the official FAQ (Korean) before you buy.

FAQ

Can I use T-money outside Seoul?

Yes — for example, Busan's subway and buses accept it. Note that the AREX Express airport train needs a separate ticket.

Can I top up T-money with a credit card?

Not for regular T-money top-ups at convenience stores and subway stations — those are made with Korean won cash. Climate Card passes and single-journey subway tickets can be bought with an overseas Visa or Mastercard at the newer machines on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8.

Can I get the ₩3,000 card price back?

No. Refunds cover only the money left on the card. Convenience stores charge ₩500; T-money Town lists no fee for refunds up to ₩500,000 a month in total (1% above that).

Need help in English?

Call the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline (+82-2-1330 from a foreign phone) for help in English and several other languages.