T-money Card: Complete Guide for Tourists in Korea (2026)

Last updated: January 2026

I still remember my first week in Seoul back in 1989. There was no T-money card. No rechargeable transit pass. You bought paper tickets or fumbled with coins every single time you got on a bus. The driver would yell at you if you didn’t have exact change. Now? You tap a card and go. Anywhere. Bus, subway, taxi, even convenience stores. The T-money card is the single most useful thing you’ll buy in Korea. I’ve had the same card for over 10 years — it’s scratched, faded, but still works perfectly. Here’s everything you need to know.

Planning a trip to Korea?
The T-money card is the single most useful thing you’ll buy here.

This rechargeable transit card works on subways, buses, taxis,
and even convenience stores across the country.
As someone who’s used T-money for over 20 years,
I’ll show you everything you need to know.

Let’s dive in.

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What is a T-money Card?

T-money is Korea’s most popular rechargeable transportation card.

Think of it like an Oyster card in London or Suica in Japan.
You tap it when boarding public transport,
and the fare is automatically deducted from your balance.

Why you need one:

• No fumbling for cash on buses
• Cheaper fares than paying cash
• Transfer discounts between subway and bus
• Works in Seoul, Busan, and most Korean cities
• Can pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and taxis

Trust me — don’t skip this.
Trying to navigate Korean public transport with cash
is a headache you don’t need.

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Where to Buy a T-money Card

You can buy a T-money card almost anywhere.
Here are your best options:

Incheon Airport

Best for: Getting your card immediately after landing.

You’ll find T-money cards at:

• Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) in the arrival hall
• Travel centers
• Vending machines near the Airport Railroad (AREX) station

This is my recommendation.
Grab one right after you land,
load some money,
and you’re ready to take the train to Seoul.

Convenience Stores

Best for: Buying anywhere, anytime.

Every CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 sells T-money cards.
These stores are literally everywhere in Korea —
you’ll never walk more than 5 minutes without seeing one.

Just say: “T-money card juseyo” (티머니 카드 주세요)

Subway Stations

Most subway stations have vending machines
that sell and recharge T-money cards.
Look for machines near the ticket gates.

Price

The card itself costs 3,000 to 5,000 won (about $2-4 USD)
depending on the design.

This is a one-time purchase fee — it’s not loaded balance.
You’ll need to add money separately.

If you’re arriving by plane, you can grab your T-money card right at the airport. Check our complete guide on Incheon Airport to Seoul for step-by-step directions.

**My recommendation:** Get it at the convenience store right outside your hotel. I’ve sent dozens of friends to the CU at Myeongdong Station Exit 6. The staff there are used to tourists and will even help you recharge it. Takes 2 minutes. Avoid buying at the airport if you’re arriving late — sometimes the booths are closed or have long lines. The convenience store method never fails.

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How to Add Money (Recharge)

Your T-money card comes empty.
Here’s how to load money onto it:

Pro tip from experience: I keep my T-money in a dedicated pocket and recharge every time it drops below 5,000원.

Nothing worse than getting stuck at a subway gate with 800원 balance and a line of annoyed commuters behind you. Trust me, I’ve been that guy. The embarrassment taught me to always check my balance.

Most convenience store cashiers will check your balance for free if you ask: “잔액 확인해 주세요” (janaek hwaginhae juseyo).

At Convenience Stores

This is the easiest method.

1. Go to any convenience store
2. Hand your card to the cashier
3. Say the amount you want to add (in Korean won)
4. Pay cash or card
5. Done!

Useful phrase: “Man-won chungjon juseyo” (만원 충전 주세요)
= “Please charge 10,000 won”

At Subway Station Machines

1. Find a T-money recharge machine (look for the T-money logo)
2. Select “English” on the screen
3. Place your card on the reader
4. Insert cash (bills only, no coins)
5. Confirm and take your card

Note: These machines usually only accept cash, not credit cards.

How Much Should You Load?

Trip Length	Recommended Amount
2-3 days in Seoul	30,000 won
1 week	50,000-60,000 won
2 weeks	80,000-120,000 won

My tip: Start with 30,000 won.
You can always add more at any convenience store.
Better than loading too much and having leftover balance.

The easiest place to recharge is any convenience store. Learn more about what else you can do there in our Korean Convenience Store Guide.

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Where Can You Use T-money?

This little card works almost everywhere.

Public Transportation

✅ Subways — All metro lines in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju
✅ Buses — City buses, express buses, village buses
✅ Taxis — Most taxis accept T-money (look for the T-money logo)
✅ Airport Railroad (AREX) — From Incheon Airport to Seoul Station

Other Uses

✅ Convenience stores — Pay for snacks, drinks, anything
✅ Vending machines — Drinks, snacks, subway station machines
✅ Lockers — Storage lockers at train stations
✅ Some cafes and restaurants — Not all, but many accept it

Where It Doesn’t Work

❌ KTX (high-speed trains) — Buy tickets separately
❌ Intercity express buses — Buy tickets at the terminal
❌ Most restaurants and shops — Use cash or credit card

The taxi trick I learned the hard way:

Early on, I assumed all taxis took T-money. Wrong. Some older drivers still prefer cash, especially late at night.

Now I always ask “카드 돼요?” (kadeu dwaeyo? = “Card okay?”) before getting in. Saves awkward moments at the destination when you realize you need to find an ATM.

The good news: about 95% of Seoul taxis accept T-money now. But that 5% will find you at 2 AM when you’re tired.

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How Much Does Transportation Cost? (2026 Fares)

Here’s what you’ll pay in Seoul as of December 2026:

Transport	Base Fare
Subway	1,500 won ($1.10)
Bus	1,600 won ($1.15)
Taxi (base)	4,800 won ($3.50)
AREX (Airport to Seoul Station)	4,850 won ($3.50)

Pro tip: Fares are about 100 won cheaper with T-money
compared to buying single-journey tickets.
Small savings, but it adds up.

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Transfer Discounts (This is Important!)

Here’s something most tourists don’t know:

You get free or discounted transfers when switching between subway and bus within 30 minutes.

Example:

• Take subway from Myeongdong to Hongdae (1,500 won)
• Transfer to bus within 30 minutes (FREE or small additional fare)

This only works if you:

1. Use the same T-money card
2. Transfer within 30 minutes
3. Tap properly when getting off the bus

Always tap when exiting buses!
If you don’t tap out, you won’t get the transfer discount,
and you might be charged extra.

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T-money vs Other Cards (2026 Comparison)

Wondering if T-money is the right choice?
Here’s how it compares:

Feature	T-money	WOWPASS	Namane Card
Transit	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Convenience stores	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Currency exchange	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No
Prepaid VISA	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No
Price	3,000-5,000 won	5,000 won	4,000 won
Custom design	❌ Limited	❌ No	✅ Yes
Best for	Transit only	All-in-one	Personalization

My recommendation:

• T-money — Best for most tourists. Simple and reliable.
• WOWPASS — Good if you want transit + prepaid card + currency exchange in one.
• Namane — Fun if you want to customize your card design.

For first-time visitors, just get T-money.
It’s the easiest option and works everywhere.

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How to Check Your Balance

Not sure how much money is left? Here’s how to check:

Method 1: Convenience Store

Ask the cashier: “Janego eolmayeyo?” (잔액 얼마예요?)
They’ll scan your card and tell you.

Method 2: Subway Machines

Place your card on any recharge machine.
Your balance will display on screen.

Method 3: T-money App

Download the T-money app (available in English).
You can check balance and transaction history.

Method 4: When You Tap

When you tap on/off the subway or bus,
the screen briefly shows your remaining balance.

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Can You Get a Refund?

Yes! If you’re leaving Korea with money left on your card,
you can get a refund.

Where to Get Refunds

• Convenience stores (for balances under 20,000 won)
• T-money customer service centers
• Some subway station booths

Refund Fees

• Balance under 20,000 won: No fee
• Balance over 20,000 won: 500 won fee

My Advice

Don’t stress about exact amounts.
If you have a few thousand won left,
just spend it at a convenience store before your flight.

Or keep the card for your next trip — T-money cards don’t expire!

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Pro Tips from a Local

After 35 years in Korea, here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Get Your Card at the Airport

Don’t wait. Buy and load your T-money before leaving Incheon Airport.
You’ll need it for the train to Seoul.

2. Always Tap Off on Buses

Subways auto-calculate your fare, but buses need you to tap when exiting.
Forget to tap? You lose your transfer discount and might pay extra.

3. Keep 5,000+ Won Balance

Running out of balance mid-trip is annoying.
I recommend always keeping at least 5,000 won loaded.

4. Use It for Small Purchases

Low on Korean cash? Use T-money at convenience stores
instead of breaking big bills.

5. One Card Per Person

Transfer discounts don’t work if you share a card.
Each traveler needs their own T-money.

Money-Saving Tips I’ve Learned

The Transfer Discount Secret

Most tourists don’t know this, but transfers are basically free.

If you take the subway, then transfer to a bus within 30 minutes, you only pay the difference — not a whole new fare. I saved over 50,000원 in my first month just by understanding this.

Example from my commute:

• Subway: 1,250원
• Transfer to bus within 30 min: +0원 (free!)
• Total: 1,250원

Without T-money, you’d pay 1,250원 + 1,200원 = 2,450원.

The Convenience Store Hack

When you buy snacks at GS25 or CU, pay with T-money.

Why? Some stores give tiny discounts (10-50원) for T-money payments. It’s not much, but over a 2-week trip, it adds up. Plus it’s faster than fumbling with cash.

I buy my morning coffee with T-money every day. The ajumma at my local CU doesn’t even ask anymore — she just points at the card reader.

Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)

Mistake #1: Forgetting to Tap Out

On buses, you tap when getting ON and getting OFF.

I forgot to tap out for months. Didn’t realize I was being overcharged every single ride. The system assumes you rode to the last stop if you don’t tap out.

Always tap out on buses. Subway gates force you to tap out, so no issue there.

Mistake #2: Letting the Balance Go Negative

Your T-money can go slightly negative for one ride. Convenient, right?

Wrong. I once entered the subway with 500원 balance, thinking I’d recharge inside. Nope — you can’t recharge past the gates. I had to exit, recharge, and re-enter. Missed my train.

Keep at least 3,000원 balance at all times.

Mistake #3: Buying Multiple Cards

My wife bought a new T-money card every visit because she lost the old one.

Then we found six T-money cards in a drawer, each with leftover balance. Total waste.

Solution: Keep your T-money card with your passport. Same importance level.

Mistake #4: Not Getting a Refund

You can get your remaining balance refunded at convenience stores when you leave Korea.

I’ve met so many tourists who threw away cards with 10,000원+ still on them. That’s real money!

Before you fly home: Go to any CU or GS25, say “환불해 주세요” (hwanbul hae juseyo), and get your cash back. They charge a small 500원 fee, but worth it.

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Is T-money card worth it?

100% yes. I can’t imagine navigating Seoul without it.

I’ve tried using cash on buses before — the driver looked at me like I was from another century. Everyone uses T-money. It’s not just convenient, it’s basically expected.

For a 1-week trip, you’ll probably save 10,000-15,000원 in fares alone compared to buying single tickets. Plus the time saved? Priceless.

Can tourists buy T-money?

Absolutely. No ID needed, no registration, nothing.

Walk into any convenience store, point at the T-money cards (usually near the register), pay 2,500-4,000원, and you’re done. I’ve helped countless friends do this — takes under 2 minutes.

The cashiers see tourists buying these daily. They know exactly what you need.

How much should I put on T-money?

For a week in Seoul, I’d start with 30,000원.

That covers about 15-20 subway rides, some bus transfers, and convenience store snacks. You can always add more.

My personal rule: 5,000원 per day of your trip. So 7 days = 35,000원 to start. You’ll likely have some left over, which you can refund at the airport.

Once you have your T-money card, you’re ready to explore. Read our Korean Subway Guide to master Seoul’s metro system.

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Final Thoughts

After 35 years in Korea, my T-money card is more important than my wallet.

I’ve lost my wallet twice. Annoying, but survivable. When I lost my T-money card once, I felt completely stranded. Couldn’t take the bus, couldn’t take the subway efficiently, couldn’t even buy my morning coffee the usual way.

Get one the moment you land. Recharge it immediately. Keep it somewhere safe.

It’s a $3 plastic card that will save you hours of frustration and thousands of won. Best investment you’ll make in Korea.

— Ted K

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