T-money card: how to buy, top up and use it

The one card for subway, bus, taxi and convenience stores — where to get it and how refunds work.

3 min read

T-money is Korea's rechargeable transit card. You tap it on the subway, city buses, most taxis and even convenience-store counters. One card works in Seoul, Busan, Jeju and most other cities.

Where to buy

• Any convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, emart24) including the ones in Incheon Airport arrivals. The card itself costs a few thousand won; designs vary.
• Subway station ticket machines sell cards too, in some stations.
• A plain T-money works everywhere a special edition does, so do not overpay for a design unless you want a souvenir.

Topping up

• Convenience stores and subway machines, cash only at most machines. Foreign credit cards usually do not work for top-ups, so keep some cash.
• Top up in round amounts (10,000 won is a good start). Balance shows on the machine when you tap.

Using it

• Tap when boarding and when getting off buses — this gives you free or discounted transfers within 30 minutes.
• On the subway, tap at the gate in and out. One card per person; you cannot share one card between two riders.
• Taxis: tell the driver "T-money" and tap the reader at the end.
• Convenience stores and many vending machines accept it as payment.

Refund

Remaining balance under 20,000 won can be refunded at convenience stores (a small fee applies); larger balances at T-money service centres such as the one at Seoul Station. Most visitors simply spend it down on snacks before leaving.