TL;DR — 3 things to know before you tap
- Buy a T-Money card immediately on arrival. Available at every convenience store in Incheon Airport arrivals hall from ₩2,500 (basic card). The card comes with ₩0 balance — top it up with cash at the same counter before leaving the store.
- Always tap off when exiting buses. There is a second reader near the rear exit door. Tap it when you get off, or you lose the free 30-minute transfer discount on your next ride. Subway exits are automatic — no extra tap needed there.
- Foreign card options expanded since March 2026. 440 kiosks at 273 subway stations now accept Visa, Mastercard and other foreign cards (3.7% fee). Apple Wallet T-Money works for Mastercard/Amex via Mobile T-money app — Visa still unsupported. Cash top-up at a convenience store remains the simplest and most reliable method.
Key Numbers at a Glance
Everything you need before you arrive at the turnstile.
Card Price
from ₩2,500
Basic card; design cards ₩3,000–₩5,000. Includes ₩500 refundable deposit
Max Balance
₩500,000
Min top-up unit: ₩1,000
Seoul Subway Fare
₩1,550
Basic fare (from June 2025)
Seoul Bus Fare
₩1,500
City bus basic fare (2026)
Transfer Window
30 minutes
Bus↔subway, free within window
Refund Fee
₩500
Deducted at convenience store
2026 March update: 440 kiosks at 273 Seoul subway stations now accept major foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, and other overseas cards) for T-Money top-up — a 3.7% service fee applies. Coverage is currently Lines 1–8 stations only. Cash at a convenience store counter remains the universal top-up method that works everywhere.
How to Buy & Load T-Money
From airport arrival to first tap — takes under 10 minutes.
Step-by-Step
1
Find a convenience store in the arrivals hall
At Incheon Airport (T1 or T2), CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven are all located inside the arrivals hall before you exit. Look for the blue-and-white or orange T-Money card displayed near the register. At subway stations, automatic ticket machines also sell the card — but the convenience store counter is faster and lets you load at the same time.
2
Buy the card for ₩2,500
Say "T-money juseyo" (T-머니 주세요) or point to the card near the register. Pay ₩2,500 cash. The price includes ₩2,000 for the card and ₩500 as a refundable deposit. The card will have ₩0 balance — do not try to tap it yet. You must top it up first.
3
Top up immediately at the same counter
Hand the card back with cash and say "chungejeon haseyo" (충전해주세요, please top up) or hold the card and bills together — the clerk will understand. Recommended: ₩20,000–₩30,000 for 2–3 days of city travel. Top-up is in ₩1,000 increments. Cash only — credit cards are not accepted for convenience store top-up.
4
Tap at subway turnstiles — enter and exit
Place the card flat on the yellow or orange square reader at the turnstile. Tap when entering AND when exiting. Both taps are required — the system calculates distance-based fares on exit. A beep and green light confirm success. A buzzer and red light means insufficient balance — top up at the machine inside the station.
5
Tap on buses — and tap OFF at the rear door
Tap the reader near the driver (front of bus) when boarding. When you exit through the rear door, tap the second reader to register your departure. This activates the 30-minute transfer discount. If you forget to tap off, you pay full fare next time — there is no way to retroactively claim the discount.
6
Pay for taxis by tapping the NFC pad
Regular metered taxis (yellow and white) have an NFC payment pad on the driver's seat divider or meter console. When the driver stops the meter at your destination, tap your T-Money card on the pad. T-Money is accepted by most taxis in Seoul and major cities. Some older individual taxis may not have NFC — pay cash in those cases.
"Just hand the card and money to the convenience store clerk. No Korean needed."
r/koreatravel · frequently upvoted advice
Where to Top Up
Your options ranked by reliability for foreign visitors.
✓ Convenience store counter — always works
The most reliable method. Hand the card and cash to the clerk. Works everywhere, every time. No Korean required — just show the card and cash together. Available nationwide, 24 hours. Cash only.
~ Subway station kiosk — major foreign cards accepted, 3.7% fee
Since March 2026, 440 kiosks at 273 Seoul subway stations (Lines 1–8) accept major foreign cards including Visa and Mastercard for T-Money top-up. A 3.7% service fee applies. Mobile payments (Apple Pay, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay) are also accepted. Do not rely on this as your only method — not all stations are covered.
LIMITED SUPPORT Apple Wallet T-Money — Mastercard/Amex only
Apple Wallet added T-Money in July 2025. As of March 2026, foreign Mastercard and Amex can charge it via the Mobile T-money app. Visa is still not supported. For most tourists, a physical T-Money card charged with cash at any convenience store remains faster and simpler.
Useful Phrases at the Counter
Korean phrases — not required, but helpful
"T-money chungejeon" — T-머니 충전 — Top up T-Money
"Eolmayeyo?" — 얼마예요? — How much? (check balance)
"Hwanbul" — 환불 — Refund
"Icheomeon won" — 이만원 — ₩20,000 (show fingers if easier)
"Eolmayeyo?" — 얼마예요? — How much? (check balance)
"Hwanbul" — 환불 — Refund
"Icheomeon won" — 이만원 — ₩20,000 (show fingers if easier)
The Transfer Discount — Free Rides
Korea's 30-minute transfer window is one of the most visitor-friendly transit features in Asia — if you know how to use it.
1
Exit the bus by tapping the rear door reader
This starts your 30-minute transfer window. The system records your exit time and last boarding point. If you don't tap off, the window does not start and no transfer discount applies on the next ride.
2
Board the next bus or subway within 30 minutes
Tap as usual. If within the 30-minute window, ₩0 is charged. The display shows "환승" (transfer) in Korean. Up to 4 total connections are allowed in one continuous journey before the full fare applies again.
3
Subway exits are automatic
When you exit a subway station through the turnstile, the system automatically records your departure. No manual extra tap needed. You can then board a bus within 30 minutes for free. The transfer window resets after each subway exit.
Real saving example: Subway (₩1,550) → bus within 30 min (₩0 instead of ₩1,500). That's ₩1,500 saved per connection. On a typical Seoul day with 4 trips, using the transfer discount properly can save ₩3,000–₩4,500.
How to Get a Refund
Three different scenarios depending on your remaining balance when you leave Korea.
Balance ₩10,000 or under → Convenience store, instant
Hand the card to any CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven clerk and say "hwanbul" (환불). They run it through the terminal and hand you cash immediately. A ₩500 processing fee is deducted. Example: ₩7,000 balance → you receive ₩6,500. Takes about 30 seconds.
Balance ₩10,000–₩20,000 (or up to ₩30,000 at CU) → Convenience store in increments
Convenience stores refund in ₩10,000 increments with a ₩500 total fee. GS25 and 7-Eleven handle up to ₩20,000; CU handles up to ₩30,000. Example: ₩25,000 balance at CU → two ₩10,000 refunds leaving ₩5,000, then one final ₩4,500 refund (₩5,000 minus ₩500 fee). A bit tedious but manageable at the counter.
COUNTER REQUIRED Balance above convenience store limit or card deposit
For balances above ₩20,000 (GS25/7-Eleven) or ₩30,000 (CU), or to recover the ₩500 card deposit, go to a subway station customer service counter (고객 안전실) with your card and original purchase receipt. Staff can process the full refund. Major stations (Seoul Station, Hongdae, Gangnam) all have counters. Open during station operating hours.
"I kept getting confused about the ₩500 deposit refund — you need to go to a subway customer service desk for that one."
r/koreatravel · top-voted comment
Common Failure Points
Problems that actually happen to visitors — and the exact fixes.
FAIL "Top-up machine at subway says foreign card not accepted"
Only the 440 upgraded kiosks at 273 subway stations (Lines 1–8, since March 2026) accept major foreign cards — other kiosks still require Korean cards.
Fix: Go to the convenience store inside or near the subway station. Cash top-up at the counter always works. Never rely on kiosks as your only top-up strategy.
Fix: Go to the convenience store inside or near the subway station. Cash top-up at the counter always works. Never rely on kiosks as your only top-up strategy.
FAIL "T-Money balance won't refund at convenience store"
Two possible causes:
(1) Balance exceeds the store's limit — GS25/7-Eleven handle up to ₩20,000, CU up to ₩30,000. For higher amounts, go to a subway customer service counter.
(2) You're trying to refund the ₩500 card deposit — this requires the subway customer service counter, not the store.
(1) Balance exceeds the store's limit — GS25/7-Eleven handle up to ₩20,000, CU up to ₩30,000. For higher amounts, go to a subway customer service counter.
(2) You're trying to refund the ₩500 card deposit — this requires the subway customer service counter, not the store.
FAIL "Apple Wallet T-Money won't charge"
Foreign Mastercard and Amex can charge Apple Wallet T-Money via the Mobile T-money app (since March 2026). Visa is still not supported. For Visa cardholders, use a physical T-Money card charged with cash.
Fix: Physical T-Money card from any convenience store (from ₩2,500) is the most reliable option regardless of card type.
Fix: Physical T-Money card from any convenience store (from ₩2,500) is the most reliable option regardless of card type.
FAIL "Card not beeping at the turnstile reader"
Two possible causes:
(1) Low balance — top up at the machine inside the station or the nearest convenience store.
(2) Card angle — place the card completely flat against the reader, not at an angle. The NFC chip must make full-surface contact with the reader.
(1) Low balance — top up at the machine inside the station or the nearest convenience store.
(2) Card angle — place the card completely flat against the reader, not at an angle. The NFC chip must make full-surface contact with the reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
T-Money cards are available at Incheon Airport arrivals hall (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven inside the terminal), any convenience store nationwide, and subway station automatic ticket vending machines. Price is ₩2,500, including a ₩500 refundable deposit. The card starts with ₩0 balance — top up immediately after purchase.
Not at convenience stores — those are cash only. Since March 2026, 440 kiosks at 273 Seoul subway stations (Lines 1–8) accept major foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, and other overseas cards) — a 3.7% service fee applies. Coverage is still expanding, so cash at a convenience store counter remains the most universally reliable method. Have ₩10,000–₩30,000 in cash ready when you arrive.
Your remaining balance is displayed on the subway turnstile screen after each tap. You can also check at convenience store terminals (place the card on the reader pad), subway top-up machines at stations, or the official T-Money app. The minimum balance required to board is ₩150.
Yes. Regular metered taxis (yellow and white) have an NFC pad on the payment terminal. When the driver stops the meter, tap your T-Money card on the pad. Most Seoul taxis support it. Some individual drivers in older vehicles may not have NFC — pay cash in that case. All Kakao T app taxis support T-Money payment.
For balances under ₩10,000: any convenience store, instant cash back minus ₩500 fee. For ₩10,000 up to ₩20,000 (GS25, 7-Eleven) or ₩30,000 (CU): convenience store in ₩10,000 increments, ₩500 total fee. For amounts above the convenience store limit or to recover the ₩500 card deposit: go to a subway station customer service counter with your card and receipt. Plan your balance so you arrive at the airport with under ₩10,000 for the simplest refund.
Yes. T-Money is accepted on public buses and subways in most major Korean cities including Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon. Transfer discount rules may vary by region. T-Money does not work on KTX trains, intercity express buses (고속버스), or AREX express trains to the airport.