How to Get a Transportation Card (T-money) in Korea: A Traveler's Guide


Everything You Need to Know About Using T-money Cards in Korea

1. What Is a T-money Card?

T-money is Korea’s most widely used transportation card,
used for:

  • Subway and bus fares

  • Taxis

  • Convenience store purchases

  • Airport transfers and more

It’s a prepaid card, so you load it with money and tap to use—simple and contactless.

2. Where to Buy a T-money Card

You can purchase a T-money card easily at:

  • Convenience stores: GS25, 7-Eleven, CU, Emart24 (look for the T-money logo)

  • Subway stations: Ticket machines or station counters

  • Incheon or Gimpo Airport: Arrival halls or travel counters

Cost: The card itself costs around 2,500 – 4,000 KRW, depending on design.

Special edition cards or character designs may be slightly more expensive.

3. How to Load (Recharge) Your T-money Card

Reloading is simple and can be done at:

  • Subway station kiosks (multi-language support)

  • Convenience stores (ask cashier to charge your card)

  • Some recharging machines also accept credit/debit cards

You can load any amount up to 500,000 KRW, but for tourists, 10,000–30,000 KRW is usually enough.

4. Using Your T-money Card on Public Transport

  • Tap your card at the reader when boarding and exiting subway trains or buses.

  • The fare is automatically deducted.

  • Don't forget to tap both when entering and exiting, especially on buses!

Bonus: Transfers between subway and bus (or bus-to-bus) within a time limit are discounted!

5. T-money vs. Cash vs. Other Apps: A Quick Comparison Table

Payment Method Convenience Transfer Discount Best For
T-money Card High Yes Tourists & locals
Cash Low No Occasional rides
Mobile Apps (Kakao Pay, Samsung Pay T-money) Medium Yes Residents with Korean phones

T-money wins for ease of use and transfer savings.

6. Alternatives to T-money: Other Card Options

  • Cashbee: Works similarly to T-money; more common in Busan

  • Korea Tour Card: T-money + tourism discounts in one card

  • Mobile T-money: Installable on Android phones with NFC

If you're staying long-term or want tourist perks, Korea Tour Card might be ideal.

7. Returning or Reusing the Card

  • T-money cards are reusable and reloadable indefinitely.

  • If you want to return the card, you can get the remaining balance refunded at designated convenience stores or stations (a small fee applies).

  • Save it for your next trip, or keep it as a souvenir!


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