T-money Card in Seoul: How to Buy, Top Up, Use and Refund (2026)

Last updated: October 2026 · Written by the Seoul Travel Tips team, based in Seoul

T-money is the rechargeable transport card most visitors use in Seoul. You tap it on subway gates and bus readers, it gives you the cheaper card fare on every ride, and it unlocks free or discounted transfers between buses and the subway. This guide covers everything you need for a short trip: where to buy it, how much to load, how to use it correctly, and how to get your money back before you fly home.

T-money is a registered trademark of T-Money Co., Ltd. This page is an independent guide, not an official T-money page.

Quick Answers

Question	Answer
How much is the card?	About ₩3,000–5,000, depending on the design. It comes with a ₩0 balance.
Where do I buy it?	Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24) and subway stations
How do I top it up?	Convenience store counters or station machines. Cash always works.
How much is a subway ride?	₩1,550 base fare with a card (₩1,650 with a single-journey ticket)
Can I get my balance back?	Yes, before you leave Korea, minus a small fee. The card price is not refunded.
Do I need a Korean phone number?	No

Why Get a T-money Card?

It is cheaper. The adult card fare for the subway is ₩1,550 for the first 10 km. A single-journey ticket costs ₩1,650 plus a ₩500 deposit, and you have to buy a new one for every ride.
Transfers are discounted. When you change between buses and the subway within the time limit, you pay only the extra distance instead of a new fare. This only works with a card.
It saves time. No queuing at ticket machines before each ride.
It works almost everywhere. Subway, city buses, many taxis and convenience stores across Korea, not just in Seoul.

Where to Buy a T-money Card

Convenience stores (easiest). Every major chain sells T-money cards at the counter: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and Emart24. You will find one near almost every hotel and subway exit. Just say “T-money card juseyo” (티머니 카드 주세요 — “a T-money card, please”) and ask the cashier to load some money onto it at the same time.

Subway stations. Many Seoul subway stations sell cards at ticket machines or customer service centers.

Incheon Airport. Convenience stores in the arrivals area sell T-money cards, so you can buy one before heading into the city. This is the best moment to get one if you are taking the AREX All-Stop train or a city bus.

How Much Money Should You Load?

There is no fixed amount, but here is a simple way to estimate it:

A typical subway ride inside central Seoul costs ₩1,550–1,750.
Most sightseeing days involve 3–5 rides.
That works out to roughly ₩6,000–9,000 per person per day.

Our suggestion: start with ₩20,000 per person and top up when your balance drops below about ₩5,000. Loading small amounts as you go means less money stuck on the card at the end of your trip.

How to Top Up (Recharge)

At a convenience store: hand your card to the cashier, say the amount (for example, “ee-man won” for ₩20,000, or just show the bills), and pay. Cash always works at the counter.

At a subway station machine:

Place your card on the card tray.
Choose English on the screen.
Select “Top up” or “Recharge”.
Choose the amount.
Pay, wait for the beep, then take your card.

Can I pay with a foreign credit card? Increasingly yes. Since 2026, many newer kiosks accept foreign cards for top-ups, but not every machine or store does. Keep some Korean won in ₩10,000 and ₩1,000 notes so you are never stuck at a gate. → Find a global ATM

How to Use T-money

Subway: tap on the gate reader when you enter and again when you exit. The fare is calculated by distance when you tap out.

Bus: tap when you board at the front and tap again when you get off at the back door. Many visitors skip this second tap, and then lose their transfer discount.

Transfers: to get the transfer discount, transfer within 30 minutes of tapping off (or within 60 minutes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.). Up to four transfers can count as one journey.

Taxis: many Seoul taxis accept T-money. Look for the card reader near the meter, or ask “T-money dwaeyo?” (“Can I use T-money?”) before you set off.

Shops: convenience stores and some vending machines accept T-money, which is handy for using up a leftover balance.

One card per person. Each traveler needs their own card, especially when transferring. You cannot tap one card twice for two people at the subway gate.

How to Check Your Balance

The gate or bus reader shows your remaining balance after each tap. You can also check it at any station top-up machine (place your card on the tray) or ask at a convenience store counter.

How to Get a Refund Before You Leave

You can get back the money left on your card, but not the price of the card itself.

Remaining balance	Where to get a refund
₩50,000 or less	Major convenience stores (a ₩500 fee applies)
More than ₩50,000	Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10

Tip: stop topping up in your last day or two and spend what is left at a convenience store. Many travelers simply keep the card for their next trip to Korea.

T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS

	T-money	Climate Card	WOWPASS
How it works	Pay per ride from a prepaid balance	Unlimited rides for a set period	Prepaid payment card with a built-in T-money function
Best for	Most short trips, flexible travel	Heavy subway and bus users staying several days in Seoul	Travelers who want one card for shopping and transport
Works outside Seoul	Yes, nationwide	Seoul area only	Yes, for transport
Our take	The safe default	Worth it if you ride 4+ times a day	Convenient if you will also use it to pay in shops

Not sure which one fits your trip? Try our Seoul Pass Finder, or read the full Climate Card guide and WOWPASS guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not tapping off the bus — you pay more on your next ride because the transfer discount is lost.
Sharing one card between two people.
Loading too much at the start and leaving with a large balance.
Tapping your whole wallet at the gate when it holds several contactless cards. The reader may charge the wrong card or refuse both. Tap the T-money card on its own.
Assuming a credit card can top up any machine. Some can, many can’t — carry some cash.

FAQ

Can tourists use T-money? Yes. Anyone can buy and use a standard T-money card. No passport, registration or Korean phone number is needed.

Can I use T-money on the AREX airport train? Yes on the All-Stop train. The AREX Express needs a separate ticket. → Incheon Airport to Seoul

Can I use T-money outside Seoul? Yes. It works on subways and buses in Busan and most other Korean cities.

What if my balance runs out at the exit gate? Use the fare adjustment or top-up machine near the gate, add a little money, then tap out again.

Can children use T-money? Children and teenagers pay lower fares, but the card must be registered for the discount within 10 days of its first use — at a convenience store, a subway customer service center or on the T-money website. An unregistered card is charged the adult fare.

Fares and policies change. We check this page regularly, but please confirm important details with official T-money or Seoul transport information before you travel.

A Local’s Take on T-money

T-money is the transit card most people in Seoul use, including long-time locals like me. These days most Koreans use it through a smartphone app. But as a visitor, you’ll only need it for a short time, so the simplest option is to buy a physical T-money card with cash at a convenience store when you arrive at the airport.

You’ll find the full details above, so here are a few tips from a local:

Plan your top-up. Before loading cash onto your card, think about which kinds of transport you’ll use most on your trip, then decide how much to add.
Running low? No problem. You can top up again anytime.
Leaving Korea? You can get your remaining balance back at a refund machine in subway stations.

T-money isn’t the only transit card out there. For other options, see our card comparison page.