T-money Card in Korea: How to Buy, Top Up and Use It (2026 Guide)
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Staring at a subway ticket machine in Korean? Take a breath. Getting around Korea is easy and cheap with a transit card, and the most common one is the T-money card.
This guide covers where to buy it, how much it costs, how to top it up, how to get your money back, and when a Seoul Climate Card is the better deal. Prices and rules below were checked in October 2026 against official Korean sources.
What Is a T-money Card?
T-money is a rechargeable prepaid card. You tap it to pay for subway, bus and taxi rides, and many convenience stores also accept it. It works on public transport in Seoul and in several other cities across Korea, so one card can follow you from Seoul to Busan.
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) lists T-money and its rival Cashbee as the two main transport cards for visitors. Both do the same job, and the gates and bus readers accept either.
Why bother with a card?
- On the Seoul subway, a card fare is ₩1,550 for an adult, versus ₩1,650 for a single-journey ticket.
- You skip the single-ticket ₩500 deposit, which you otherwise have to reclaim at a machine.
- You get transfer discounts when you switch between subway and bus.
One honest note: on a Seoul city bus the fare is ₩1,500 whether you pay by card or cash, so the card does not make buses cheaper. It just makes boarding easy.
How Much Does a T-money Card Cost?
The card itself usually costs about ₩3,000 to ₩4,000, depending on the design. KTO lists cards starting from ₩2,500, and character editions can cost more.
That price is a purchase cost, not a deposit. It is not refunded when you leave. Your top-up balance is a separate matter, covered in the refund section below.
Where to Buy a T-money Card
- Convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Ministop and Emart24. Look for the T-money logo on the door or counter.
- Subway station vending machines in the Seoul metropolitan area.
- Subway station customer service offices (Tmoney's list includes them as sales points).
- Tmoney Town at Seoul Station, Exit 10, in the Seoul City Tower 1F lobby.
The easiest option for most visitors is the closest convenience store. Staff will sell you the card and load it in one step. Bring Korean won in cash.
If you land without any won, you can also pre-order a T-money card on Klook online and pick it up at Incheon Airport, then top it up at a station machine with cash later. Check the pickup counter and hours in your voucher before you fly.
How to Top Up Your T-money Card
Topping up is simple.
- Go to a convenience store or a subway-station top-up machine.
- Hand over your card and tell the cashier how much to load, or follow the machine's English menu.
- Pay in Korean won cash. The cashier loads the money and returns your card.
Top-up limits (from Tmoney's foreigner guide):
- Top up in units of ₩1,000.
- Each top-up can be ₩1,000 to ₩90,000.
- The card can hold up to ₩500,000.
Foreign credit cards: Seoul's new subway vending machines accept international Visa and Mastercard, but only for single-journey tickets and Climate Cards. They are not for regular T-money top-ups, so keep some cash on you.
Heading to Busan or another city? T-money works on many local buses and subways, and my KTX booking guide for foreign visitors covers the train ticket itself.
How Much Should You Load?
Load a small amount first, such as ₩10,000 to ₩20,000. At ₩1,550 per subway ride, that covers about 6 to 12 rides. You can always top up again, and smaller balances are far easier to refund later.
How to Use T-money on the Subway and Bus
- Subway: Tap your card on the reader at the gate when you enter. Tap again when you exit.
- Bus: Tap when you board. Tap again when you get off. Do not skip the exit tap, because it is needed for transfer discounts.
- Taxi: Many taxis accept T-money. Look for the logo and tell the driver you will pay by card.
The Transfer Discount
If you transfer between subway and bus (or bus to bus) within 30 minutes of getting off the previous ride (up to 1 hour between 9 pm and 7 am), the combined trip is charged at the highest base fare plus a distance charge, instead of two full fares. Always tap in and out to qualify.
T-money vs. Climate Card vs. Other Options
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| T-money card | Card ~₩3,000-4,000 + balance | Most visitors, trips across several cities |
| Climate Card, 1-day | ₩5,000 | Heavy sightseeing days in Seoul |
| Climate Card, 2-day | ₩8,000 | Short Seoul trips |
| Climate Card, 3-day | ₩10,000 | Short Seoul trips |
| Climate Card, 5-day | ₩15,000 | Longer Seoul stays |
| Climate Card, 7-day | ₩20,000 | A week in Seoul |
| Single-journey ticket | Fare + ₩100, plus ₩500 deposit | One or two rides only |
- T-money card: refund of balance possible, minus ₩500 fee.
- Climate Card (all short-term passes): unlimited Seoul subway and Seoul buses. Starts the day you charge it. Physical card costs ₩3,000. Foreign Visa/Mastercard accepted at new machines. Not valid on airport or intercity buses.
- Single-journey ticket: subway only.
Climate Card prices are from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Is the Climate Card Worth It?
At ₩1,550 per subway ride, a ₩5,000 one-day Climate Card pays for itself if you take roughly four or more rides in a day. It is a good pick for busy days in Seoul.
Things to know before buying:
- The pass starts the day you charge it. You cannot charge it in advance.
- It covers Seoul subway lines and Seoul-licensed buses. It excludes the Sinbundang Line, GTX, and airport and intercity buses.
- Short-term passes do not include Seoul Bike or the Hangang Bus.
- Since March 2026, the new vending machines in stations accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for these passes. Seoul says an average service fee of about 3.7% applies.
- Unused balance can be refunded before the pass expires, minus a ₩500 fee.
The old 30-day Climate Card was discontinued on September 1, 2026. The replacement, the Climate Pass, is for Seoul residents, so visitors should stick with the short-term passes.
Pay With Your Phone
- iPhone or Apple Watch: The MobileTmoney app lets you add T-money to Apple Wallet and top up with a Mastercard card, according to Mastercard.
- Android: The KOREA TOUR CARD app on Google Play can also be topped up with Mastercard.
- Tapping a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly on Seoul buses is not available yet. Tmoney plans to launch it in 2027 after testing through 2026.
How to Get a T-money Refund
Before you leave Korea, you can cash out leftover balance. Here are the rules.
| Where | Balance limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| GS25 | Under ₩20,000 | ₩500 |
| 7-Eleven | ₩20,000 or less | ₩500 |
| CU, Emart24 | ₩30,000 or less | ₩500 |
| Subway station customer service office | Up to ₩50,000 | ₩500 |
| Tmoney Town (Seoul Station Exit 10) | Larger balances | Ask staff |
- The card price is never refunded.
- Refunds are paid in cash at stores and counters.
- Partial refunds (₩10,000 to ₩50,000, in ₩10,000 units) are only available at Tmoney Town and station service offices, and only for plastic cards.
Tip: Do the refund in the city before heading to the airport, since the limits depend on the shop chain.
T-money Checklist for First-Time Visitors
- ☐ Bring Korean won in cash for the card and first top-up.
- ☐ Buy the card at a convenience store with the T-money logo.
- ☐ Load ₩10,000 to ₩20,000 to start.
- ☐ Tap in AND tap out on every subway and bus ride.
- ☐ Transfer within 30 minutes to get the discount.
- ☐ Consider a Climate Card pass on busy Seoul days.
- ☐ Spend or refund your balance before leaving. The ₩500 fee applies to refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my T-money card outside Seoul?
Yes. Per KTO, T-money works on buses and subways in several metropolitan cities and locations across Korea. Check for the T-money logo at the reader.
Can I top up T-money with a foreign credit card?
Not at convenience stores, which take Korean won cash. Subway machines accept foreign cards for Climate Cards and single tickets, not for regular T-money top-ups. On iPhone, the MobileTmoney app can be topped up with Mastercard.
Do I get the card price back?
No. The ₩3,000 to ₩4,000 card price is not refundable. Only the remaining balance can be refunded, minus a ₩500 fee.
How much money can I keep on the card?
Up to ₩500,000, according to Tmoney. Most visitors need far less, so load a small amount at a time.
Is T-money or Cashbee better?
For most visitors there is no practical difference. Gates and readers accept both. Their refund rules differ, so check which logo is on your card.
Not sure which map app to use for your subway and bus routes? My Google Maps vs Naver Map vs KakaoMap comparison explains which one works best in Korea. For the big picture, start with my Korea trip planner for first-timers, which links all my guides.
Final Thoughts
For most visitors, buying a T-money card at a convenience store, loading ₩10,000 to ₩20,000 and tapping in and out is all you need. Add a Climate Card pass if you will ride a lot in Seoul in a single day.
Planning the rest of your trip? See eSIM vs SIM card vs pocket WiFi for mobile data, and where to stay in Seoul to pick a base near the subway.
Questions about getting around Korea? Leave a comment and I'll help.
Fares and rules can change. Check Tmoney (pay.tmoney.co.kr) or the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the latest, and call the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline for help in English.
Sources: Tmoney foreigner guide; Korea Tourism Organization (visitkorea.or.kr); Seoul Metropolitan Government (Climate Card, subway and bus fares); Mastercard Newsroom; The Korea Herald.
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