South Korea T-money Card Guide — Setup, Recharge, and Common Problems (2025)

T-money is the one card you absolutely need in South Korea. It's your subway pass, bus ticket, taxi payment, and convenience store wallet rolled into one plastic card.

Without T-money, you'll be fumbling with cash at every bus stop, struggling with ticket machines at every subway station, and paying more than you need to for taxis.

Here's everything you need to know.

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What Is T-money?

T-money (티머니) is South Korea's rechargeable smart card for transportation and small purchases. Launched in 2004, it's now accepted on:

• Seoul Metro — all lines, all stations
• Buses — all public buses nationwide
• Taxis — tap at the meter when exiting
• Convenience stores — CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24
• Vending machines — in subway stations and some public areas
• Some restaurants and cafes — near transit hubs
• Coin lockers — at major train stations
• Korail trains — some intercity routes (not KTX — you need reserved tickets)

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How to Get a T-money Card

At the Airport (Incheon / Gimpo)

• Convenience stores in arrival hall — CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven
• Say "T-money card" or point to the display near the register
• Cost: ₩2,500–4,000 for the card itself
• Choose from plain designs or limited-edition character cards (BT21, Kakao Friends)
• Load money at the same time: hand the clerk cash, say the amount

In Seoul

• Any convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24)
• Subway station convenience stores
• T-money vending machines in some stations

Mobile T-money (Limited)

• iPhone: Not natively supported unless you have a Korean Apple ID and Korean banking setup
• Android: T-money app available, but registration requires Korean phone verification
• Samsung Pay: Supports T-money for Korean-market Samsung phones

For most tourists: Physical card is the way to go. Simple, no setup headaches.

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Loading Money (Recharging)

At Convenience Stores (Easiest)

1. Hand your T-money card to the clerk
2. Say the amount: "만원 충전해주세요" (Man-won chung-jeon-hae-ju-se-yo) = "₩10,000 recharge please"
3. Or simply say the number in English — "ten thousand won charge" usually works
4. Pay cash
5. Done

At Subway Station Machines

1. Find the "T-money / Transportation Card" machine (usually near ticket gates)
2. Place card on the reader
3. Select English on the touchscreen
4. Choose recharge amount (₩1,000 / ₩5,000 / ₩10,000 / ₩50,000)
5. Insert cash (bills or coins)
6. Take your card when done

Minimum recharge: ₩1,000 Maximum balance: ₩500,000

Recommended Balance

• Day trip in Seoul: ₩10,000–15,000
• Full week: ₩30,000–50,000
• Quick top-up before running out: ₩10,000

A single subway ride in Seoul costs ₩1,400–2,150 depending on distance. Bus: ₩1,200–2,300.

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Using T-money

Subway

• Tap card at the entry gate (beep, gate opens)
• Tap again at the exit gate (fare calculated by distance)
• Transfers between subway and bus within 30 minutes: discounted or free

Bus

• Tap card when boarding (front of bus)
• Tap again when exiting (rear door) — this is critical for distance-based routes
• If you forget to tap out, you'll be charged the maximum fare

Taxi

• Tell the driver "T-money" at the start of the ride
• When you arrive, the driver switches the meter to card mode
• Tap your card on the reader near the meter
• Works for the full fare including any late-night surcharges

Why T-money for taxis: No need to fumble with bills, no need to count change, and the receipt is automatic.

Convenience Stores

• When paying, say "T-money" and tap your card on the reader at the counter
• Works for any purchase
• Check your balance: the screen shows remaining balance after each transaction

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Common Problems and Fixes

Problem: Card Rejected at Bus

Most likely cause: Insufficient balance. Buses don't display your balance when you tap — they just reject the card.

Fix:

1. Pay cash for this ride (have ₩1,200 ready)
2. At the next convenience store, check balance and recharge
3. Minimum bus fare is ₩1,200 — always keep at least ₩2,000 as buffer

Problem: Card Won't Register at Gate

Causes:

• Tapping too fast — hold the card still for 1 full second
• Card not flat on the reader — remove from wallet/phone case, tap card directly
• Reader malfunction — try the next gate

Fix: Remove the card from any case or wallet. Place it flat on the reader. Hold for 1 second. Don't wave or swipe — it's a tap-and-hold motion.

Problem: Double Charged

This happens when you tap at entry but forget to tap at exit. The system charges maximum distance fare.

Fix: Visit the customer service center at any major subway station within 7 days. Bring the card. They can refund the overcharge.

Problem: Card Physically Damaged

If the card is cracked or the chip is damaged:

• Buy a new card (₩2,500)
• The old card's balance is NOT transferable (it's stored on the chip)
• This is why keeping a huge balance on T-money isn't recommended

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WOWPASS: The Tourist-Friendly Alternative

WOWPASS is a newer card designed specifically for foreign tourists:

What it combines:

• T-money transportation (works everywhere T-money works)
• Prepaid Visa card (works at any Visa terminal)
• Currency exchange (load KRW from foreign currency at WOWPASS kiosks)

Where to get it:

• WOWPASS kiosks at Incheon Airport, Myeongdong, Hongdae, and other tourist areas
• Insert foreign currency bills (USD, EUR, JPY, CNY, etc.)
• Machine dispenses WOWPASS loaded with KRW equivalent

Pros:

• One card for everything (transit + shopping)
• Competitive exchange rates (better than airport counters)
• Available 24/7 at kiosks
• No Korean bank account needed

Cons:

• Exchange rate spread still exists (check vs. market rate)
• Not all WOWPASS kiosks accept all currencies
• App registration has occasional bugs for non-Korean phone numbers

Verdict: If you want simplicity, WOWPASS is excellent. If you prefer maximum control, separate T-money + your international card is fine.

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Getting Your Balance Refunded

When leaving Korea:

• At convenience stores: Request refund. They'll return cash minus ₩500 fee for remaining balance under ₩20,000. Balances over ₩20,000 require the T-money website.
• At the airport: Some GS25 stores at Incheon Airport process refunds
• Or just keep it — T-money doesn't expire. If you plan to visit Korea again, your balance will be waiting.

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Emergency Korean Phrases

| Situation | Korean | Pronunciation | English | |-----------|--------|---------------|---------| | Recharge please | 충전해주세요 | Chung-jeon-hae-ju-se-yo | Please recharge | | 10,000 won | 만원 | Man-won | 10,000 won | | Where is subway? | 지하철역이 어디에요? | Ji-ha-cheol-yeok-i eo-di-e-yo? | Where is the subway station? | | T-money not working | 티머니가 안 돼요 | Ti-meo-ni-ga an dwae-yo | T-money isn't working | | Check balance | 잔액 확인 | Jan-aek hwak-in | Check balance |

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Before Your Trip

1. Get T-money card at Incheon Airport convenience store immediately after landing
2. Load ₩20,000 for first 2–3 days
3. Download Naver Map (NOT Google Maps — unreliable in Korea)
4. Download KakaoMap as backup
5. Download KakaoTalk (Korea's WhatsApp — everyone uses it)

Use the South Korea Setup Kit for the complete checklist, or scan your risk level with the Risk Scanner.

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Last updated: February 2025.