How to buy T-money and ride the Seoul subway

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, T-money is sold at convenience stores and at information centres in Line 1–8 stations for 3,000–5,000 won. The card comes empty, so top it up first, at station machines, up to 500,000 won.

Cash always works at the machines. Since 17 March 2026, 440 new machines at 273 stations on Lines 1–8 also take Visa, Mastercard and other foreign cards, for buying the Climate Card, loading short-term passes and buying single tickets (average 3.7% fee). We couldn't confirm from official sources whether foreign cards can top up an ordinary T-money card.

• The basic subway fare is 1,550 won up to 10 km with a transport card (since 28 June 2025). A single ticket costs 100 won more plus a 500-won deposit.
• Transfers within 30 minutes are free; 60 minutes between 21:00 and 07:00.
• Tap out at the exit gate too. Since 7 March 2026, not tapping out costs an extra basic fare.
• Night buses cost 2,500 won, and taxis accept transport cards.

Seoul's Climate Card has short-term passes visitors can use: 5,000 won for 1 day, 8,000 for 2, 10,000 for 3, 15,000 for 5 and 20,000 for 7 (plus 3,000 won for the card). The day you load it counts as day one, and you can't load it in advance. A day runs from first train to last.

• It covers the subway within Seoul and Seoul city, village and night buses. You can ride it to Incheon Airport T1/T2 and get off there, but not board at the airport.
• Not covered: the Shinbundang Line, GTX, subways outside Seoul, and express and airport buses.
• Since 1 October 2026 it no longer works in Goyang (where KINTEX is), Seongnam, Gimpo and some other cities. Use ordinary T-money on a KINTEX day.
• Buy it from machines at Line 1–8 stations, among other places. It doesn't work with Apple Pay.
• The 30-day pass ended on 1 October 2026; only short-term passes remain.

Four subway rides a day (4 × 1,550 = 6,200 won) already cost more than the 1-day pass, but free transfers lower your real count, so compare against your own plans.

• WOWPASS: 5,000 won, passport required; leftover balance comes back as won in cash at a WOWPASS kiosk (KTO).
• Mpass: an unlimited card for foreigners, 15,000 won for 1 day to 64,500 won for 7, cash only, covering the Seoul subway, city buses and the AREX all-stop train, up to 20 rides a day (KTO).

Per the KTO, small balances can be refunded at convenience stores, but refunds over 50,000 won are only possible at Tmoney Town in Seoul Station, so don't load much more than you will use. Climate Card refunds are the load amount minus what you used and a 500-won fee, and foreigners without a Korean bank account must go to T-money's head office.