Getting and using a transport card
A transport card gives you transfer discounts across buses and subways.
Types
- Prepaid transport card — buy at a convenience store and top up. No Alien Registration Card needed.
- Postpaid transport card — transport function on a debit or credit card, applied for at a bank.
- Mobile transport card — a phone app; availability varies by handset.
- Tourist cards such as Korea Tour Card
Steps
- Buy a transport card at a convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and others).
- Top up at the same place — say "충전해 주세요" and the amount.
- Tap both when boarding and when getting off. Failing to tap on exit loses the transfer discount and can trigger an extra charge.
- Top up when the balance runs low — machines in subway stations also work.
Transfer discounts
- Bus↔subway and bus↔bus transfers within a set time are free or discounted.
- You must tap on exit for it to apply.
- Conditions and fares differ by region — check the T-money website.
Where to go
- Convenience stores nationwide, subway stations
- T-money www.tmoney.co.kr · 1644-0088
- Cashbee www.cashbee.co.kr
- 1330 tourist interpretation line (24 hours, multilingual)
Questions people ask
I lost my card. Prepaid cards generally cannot recover the balance. Registering the card sometimes gives partial protection — check the issuer's site.
Can I get the balance refunded? Some convenience stores refund it minus a small fee. Check with the card company.
Do I need a credit card? No. Prepaid transport cards can be bought and topped up with cash.
Do taxis take transport cards? Most do. Confirm with the driver before you get in.
Take care
Always tap when getting off. Otherwise you may be charged extra on your next ride or lose the transfer discount. Buses have readers at the rear door too.
Related
subway-use · bus-use · taxi-use · mobile-payment
Source
T-money www.tmoney.co.kr / As of 2026-08