Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Comparing South Korea's 4 Tourist Transit & Payment Cards
Unlike cities where you can tap a foreign credit card directly on every subway turnstile, South Korea's metropolitan subways and buses still require a local RF transit card. Visitors choose between four cards depending on how long they stay in Seoul and whether they want a backup Korean prepaid debit card:
| Card Name | Card Fee | How to Top Up Transit | Where It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard T-money / Cashbee (EZL) | ₩3,000–₩5,000 | Cash (KRW notes) at subway kiosks & convenience stores | Nationwide subways, city buses, AREX All-Stop, taxis & convenience stores | 90% of travelers visiting Seoul + Busan/Gyeongju/Jeju |
| Seoul Climate Card (Tourist Pass) | ₩3,000 card + ₩5,000 (1d) / ₩10,000 (3d) / ₩15,000 (5d) / ₩20,000 (7d) | Cash or credit card at Seoul Metro Lines 1–8 kiosks | Unlimited Seoul city subways, Seoul blue/green/village buses (plus exit at ICN) | Heavy Seoul sightseers riding 4+ subways/buses daily inside Seoul |
| WOWPASS | ₩5,000 (at airport/hotel kiosk) | Prepaid chip via 16 foreign currencies or app; T-money side via KRW cash | Prepaid domestic payment everywhere + built-in nationwide T-money chip | Travelers carrying foreign cash notes or worried about foreign card declines at kiosks |
| NAMANE Card | ₩7,000 | Top up both payment & transit balance via foreign credit card in NAMANE app (4–6% fee) | Nationwide transit (Rail+) + domestic IC chip payment | Travelers who want to top up transit via credit card app without cash |
How T-money Fares & Free 30-Minute Transfers Work
In the Seoul Capital Area, a single subway or blue/green trunk bus ride costs ₩1,400–₩1,500 with a T-money card (₩100 cheaper than buying a single-journey token, which also requires a ₩500 refundable deposit). Better yet, South Korea's integrated fare system gives you up to 4 free transfers between subways and buses within 30 minutes of tapping out (extended to 60 minutes between 21:00 and 07:00). You only pay a small ₩100 addition for every 5 km traveled beyond the first 10 km.
The Golden Rule of Korean Buses: You must tap your T-money card on the reader by the front door when boarding and tap it again on the reader by the rear exit door just before stepping off. If you forget to tap out, the system cannot calculate your distance and will charge the maximum route fare plus block your free transfer to the subway.
When to Use the Seoul Climate Card (기후동행카드)
Seoul's short-term Climate Card offers unlimited rides on subways and licensed Seoul city buses for 1 day (₩5,000), 2 days (₩8,000), 3 days (₩10,000), 5 days (₩15,000), or 7 days (₩20,000). Buy the physical card for ₩3,000 at Seoul Tourism Plaza, Myeongdong Tourist Information Center, or customer safety offices inside Seoul Metro Lines 1–8 stations, then load your pass duration at any station kiosk using cash or card.
Important Climate Card Boundaries: The Climate Card covers all stations inside Seoul city limits, plus you can tap out (exit) at Incheon International Airport (T1/T2) on the AREX All-Stop train. However, you cannot board at Incheon Airport with a Climate Card, cannot use it on the red wide-area commuter buses, cannot use it on the Sinbundang Line, and cannot use it to exit at stations outside Seoul in Gyeonggi-do or Incheon (such as Suwon Station). Keep a regular T-money card with ₩10,000 on it for your Incheon Airport arrival and day trips outside Seoul.
Child & Youth Discounts and Refunding Leftover Balance
Children under 6 ride subways and city buses free (up to 3 children per accompanying adult). Travelers aged 6–12 (Child) and 13–18 (Youth) receive roughly 50% and 20–30% discounts on every tap—but only if you ask the convenience-store clerk or subway station office to register the passenger's date of birth onto the T-money card when you buy it. Before flying home, you can refund any remaining T-money balance under ₩20,000–₩30,000 in cash (minus a ₩500 service fee) at any CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven convenience store at Incheon Airport, or spend the exact balance down to ₩0 on airport snacks and drinks.
Frequently asked questions
Can two people share one T-money card on the subway or bus?
On the subway, NO—every passenger aged 6 and older must have their own T-money card to tap in and out of the turnstiles. On city buses, you can technically ask the driver to set the fare terminal for 2 adults before tapping, but if you transfer to the subway afterward only one person gets the free transfer, so each traveler should carry their own card.
Does my Seoul T-money card work in Busan, Gyeongju, and Jeju Island?
Yes! T-money and EZL (formerly Cashbee) are interoperable nationwide. The exact same card you buy at Incheon Airport works on Busan Metro, Busan buses, Gyeongju city buses (#10, #50, #700), Jeonju buses, and Jeju Island buses.
Can I use Apple Pay or foreign contactless credit cards at Seoul subway gates?
Not on regular foreigner Visa/Mastercards yet. While Apple Pay works at modern Korean retail terminals for Hyundai Card holders, standard subway turnstiles and city bus readers still require a domestic T-money/EZL card or a Korean post-paid transit credit card.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: