The first thing I do after landing in Seoul is buy a T-money card — five minutes, and the whole subway becomes easy to navigate.
The short answer: A T-money card is a rechargeable transit card that pays for Seoul's subway, buses, and many taxis with one tap. Buy one at any convenience store or the airport for roughly 2,500 to 5,000 won (the plain card is about 4,000 won), load cash onto it in 1,000-won units, and tap in and out at the gates. The adult base fare is 1,550 won for the first 10 kilometers.
Photo: ZKang123, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is a T-money card, and why do visitors need one?
A T-money card is Korea's universal prepaid transit card, and it is the single most useful purchase you will make on a Seoul trip. One tap pays for the subway, city buses, intercity buses, and most taxis that display the T-money logo. It also works as a small e-wallet at convenience stores, and it is accepted on transit systems nationwide.
Without it, every ride means single-journey tickets at station machines — slower, slightly more expensive, and with no transfer discount. With it, you tap and walk through, and the fare is deducted automatically when you exit.
Where do you buy a T-money card?
Buy one at any convenience store — CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 keep them at the counter — or at the airport arrivals hall and subway station vending machines. No ID or registration is needed for the basic card.
How much does a T-money card cost?
The card itself costs roughly 2,500 to 5,000 won depending on the design. A plain standard card is usually about 4,000 won; fancier designs cost a bit more. This covers the card only — it comes with zero balance, and the card fee is not refundable.
It pays for itself fast: every ride costs 100 won less than a single-journey ticket and transfers are free.
How do you top up a T-money card?
Topping up — Koreans call it chungjeon — is simple, but there is one rule to remember: ordinary T-money top-ups are cash only. Keep some 10,000-won bills on hand.
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You have two main options. The first is any convenience store counter: hand your card and cash to the cashier, say "T-money charge" and the amount, and they load it in 1,000-won units. The second is the ticket vending and card reload machines inside subway stations — choose the English menu, select the reload option, insert your card, feed in bills, and tap the card on the reader pad to confirm.
The card holds up to 500,000 won, far more than a trip needs — I usually start with about 30,000 won, which covers several days of riding. Note that the new kiosks across Lines 1–8 accept overseas cards only for Climate Card passes and single-journey tickets (3.7% fee) — T-money reloads still require cash.
How do you use it at subway gates?
Hold the card flat against the round reader pad on the gate until it beeps, then walk through. Do the same when you exit. Always tap out — the subway charges by distance and the fare is calculated when you leave, so skipping it can trigger a penalty fare or flag your card.
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After each tap, the small gate screen shows the deduction and your remaining balance. If the balance runs too low, the gate will not open — top up at a nearby machine first. One card per person: each traveler taps their own card in and out.
How much does a subway ride cost?
Seoul subway fares are distance-based:
| Rider | With T-money card | Single-journey ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 1,550 won (first 10 km) | 1,650 won + 500 won refundable deposit |
| Youth, age 13–18 | 900 won | 1,650 won |
| Child, age 6–12 | 550 won | about 550 won |
Beyond 10 kilometers, the fare rises by about 100 won per 5 kilometers, and 100 won per 8 kilometers past 50 kilometers — even a long cross-city trip usually stays under 2,000 won. There is also an early-bird discount of about 20% when you tap in before 6:30 AM with a T-money card.
What about transfers between subway and bus?
Transfers are free or discounted as long as you use the same T-money card and transfer within 30 minutes of getting off (60 minutes between 9 PM and 7 AM), up to four transfers per connected journey. This covers subway-to-subway and subway-to-bus switches, effectively making a multi-leg trip cost a single continuous fare.
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The exit tap registers your journey and unlocks the transfer discount on the next leg — another reason to never skip it. At big stations like Seoul Station or Express Bus Terminal, follow the colored floor markings and "Transfer" signs; some corridors are long, so allow a few extra minutes.
How do you check your balance on a phone?
The gate screen shows your remaining balance every time you tap out, and station charging machines can display it too. For a phone check, tap the card against your phone's NFC spot with a reader app: the official T-money app on Android, or the BucaCheck-Korea app on iPhone (iOS 13 or later).
Mobile T-money also runs through Samsung Wallet on Android. As of 2026, T-money can be added to Apple Wallet too, but loading balance still needs a Korea-issued credit card — most visitors are better off with the plastic card and cash top-ups.
Can you get a refund for leftover balance?
Yes. If your remaining balance is 20,000 won or less, most convenience stores refund it in cash on the spot, minus a 500-won service fee. Refunds cover the full remaining balance only — no partial refunds. Larger balances go through a T-money customer service center, such as T-money Town near Seoul Station. The card itself is not refundable.
The card never expires, so keep it if you plan to visit Korea again — any leftover balance will still be there.
FAQ
Do children need their own T-money card?
Yes — one card per person. Youth (13–18) and child (6–12) fares need the card registered with the rider's age at a convenience store or station office. Adults using a child-discounted card face fines.
Can I tap my foreign credit card at the subway gate?
No. Regular Visa or Mastercard cards — even in Apple Pay — do not open subway gates. The foreign-card support added to station kiosks in 2026 covers buying single-journey tickets and Climate Card passes at the machine, not tapping at the turnstile.
Does T-money work outside Seoul?
Yes. It works nationwide on subways, buses, and taxis displaying the T-money logo — Busan, Jeju, and most other regions included.
What happens if I forget to tap out?
The system cannot calculate your fare, so it may charge a penalty on your next tap or flag the card. Station staff or a customer service center can fix it. Make tapping out a habit — it also preserves your transfer discount.
Related guides
How to Ride the Seoul Bus Without Getting Lost