Buy a T-money card at a convenience store counter (₩4,000–5,000), tap it on the Seoul subway, and recharge with cash — or with a foreign card at the new subway kiosks since March 17, 2026.
For a short trip to Seoul, that one card covers the subway, city buses, taxis, and even convenience store purchases, so it is usually the first thing worth getting after landing.
This post covers where to buy the card, the 2026 fares, how to recharge it with a foreign card, where it works, how it compares to K-Pass and WOWPASS, and how to get leftover money back.
Contents
- T-money card: where to buy it in 2026 and what it costs
- How much is the Seoul subway fare in 2026
- Can I charge T-money with a foreign card
- Where T-money works besides the subway
- T-money vs K-Pass vs WOWPASS
- T-money refund rules: getting leftover money back
T-money card: where to buy it in 2026 and what it costs
Buy the card at the counter of any GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, or Ministop — hand over cash and say ‘T-money juseyo’, which means ‘T-money, please’.
- Walk into any of the five chains above — they are on nearly every block in central Seoul.
- Say ‘T-money juseyo’ or point at the card display behind the counter.
- Pay the card price in cash, then ask the clerk to load travel money onto it in the same visit.
The price is a purchase cost, not a deposit, so the card itself is never refunded — 2026 sources report the standard card anywhere from about ₩2,500–4,000 by design, or flat ₩4,000–5,000, which means the number differs between sources.
Travelers arriving soon can ask for the T-money Travel Card, the foreigner version listed at ₩4,000 — against a standard card reported at ₩5,000 by one source, that is a 1,000 KRW gap (₩5,000 − ₩4,000).
Before anything else, check how the card is actually charged from outside Korea — cash is still the default, and the foreign-card options are newer and narrower than most guides suggest.
| Where to buy | Counter of GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, or Ministop — say ‘T-money juseyo’ |
|---|---|
| Card price | About ₩4,000–5,000 depending on design and source — confirm at the counter |
| Base subway fare | 1,400-won range, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Cash recharge | Works at convenience stores and station machines |
| Foreign-card recharge | New subway kiosks from March 17, 2026 · Mobile app (no Visa) from March 18, 2026 |
How much is the Seoul subway fare in 2026
| Item | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Seoul metropolitan basic transit fare | 1,400-won range |
| Effective date | January 1, 2026 |
| Bus–subway transfer window | About 30 minutes, free |
| Distance-based extra fare | Deducted automatically on tap |
The exact final figure beyond that 1,400-won range has not been pinned to a primary Seoul Metro page, so treat 1,400 as the floor rather than a confirmed ticket price.
If your day involves two or more rides, the transfer rule matters more than the base fare, because the card handles the discount on its own.
Can I charge T-money with a foreign card
Cash is still the default recharge, but since March 17, 2026 the new subway kiosks accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay cards — and from March 18, 2026 the Mobile T-money app accepts foreign Mastercard, Amex, and UnionPay, with Visa not supported.
Seoul Metro rolled out about 440 new unmanned kiosks at 273 stations on subway lines 1–8 on March 17, 2026, accepting international Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay cards for T-money recharging, with an average service fee of about 3.7%.
| Recharge method | What it takes | Since | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRW cash | Cash at convenience stores or station machines | Always | None |
| New subway kiosks | Foreign Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay | March 17, 2026 | About 3.7% average |
| Mobile T-money app | Foreign Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay — no Visa | March 18, 2026 | None confirmed |
As of May 2026 the upgraded kiosks are confirmed at Seoul Station, Hongdae, Myeongdong, Gangnam, and the Line 1, 2, and 9 hubs — the same kiosks also sell one-time subway tickets and Climate Companion Card 1/2/3/5/7-day passes.
The subway turnstiles do not take credit cards directly — the kiosks accept foreign cards only for recharging, not for gate entry.
If your wallet is plastic-only, head to one of those major stations to recharge; if you carry some cash, recharging at a convenience store stays the simplest route.
Where T-money works besides the subway
T-money covers the whole Seoul–Incheon–Gyeonggi subway network, plus Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi city buses and most intercity bus routes.
Many taxis take it too — look for the T-money sticker on the window, and most central Seoul cabs have one.
Beyond transport, the card pays directly at convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, emart24), vending machines, subway lockers including Seoul Station’s, and some chains such as Lotteria, Paris Baguette, and Twosome Place.
Jeju Island and Incheon Airport limousine buses were not confirmed in recent sources, so carry a backup payment method for those rides.
Because the card doubles as a small payment card, loading extra cash onto it costs nothing and saves exact-change hunting at stores.
T-money vs K-Pass vs WOWPASS
T-money is the choice for essentially every visitor; K-Pass is for Korean residents only; WOWPASS targets tourists who want to top up in foreign currency.
| Card | Who it is for | Cost | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-money | Everyone, short or long stay | About ₩4,000–5,000 | Transit plus store payment |
| K-Pass | Korean residents with an ARC only | Free | Linked to a Korean bank card |
| WOWPASS | Tourists and short-term visitors | ₩5,000 | Top-up in 16 foreign currencies |
The Korea Tour Card has been discontinued and folded into the Travel Card, so old guides pointing to it are out of date.
Long-term residents without a Korean-issued card gain nothing from K-Pass, and short-term tourists gain nothing from it either — the ARC requirement rules both out.
If your trip is under two weeks, the standard T-money or Travel Card covers everything the other two would.
T-money refund rules: getting leftover money back
Convenience store refunds are capped by brand — GS25 takes balances under 20,000 KRW, 7-Eleven up to 20,000 KRW, CU and emart24 up to 30,000 KRW — and above that, subway station customer centers handle refunds up to 50,000 KRW, with larger amounts going through Tmoney Town.
| Where you refund | Balance limit |
|---|---|
| GS25 | Under 20,000 KRW |
| 7-Eleven | Up to 20,000 KRW |
| CU, emart24 | Up to 30,000 KRW |
| Subway station customer centers | Up to 50,000 KRW |
| Larger amounts | Tmoney Town |
A 500 KRW fee applies to almost all refunds, and it is waived only if the remaining balance is below the 1,550 KRW basic fare.
Do the math before queuing: buying and fully refunding a 4,000 KRW card returns 3,500 KRW, costing 4,500 KRW total (4,000 non-refundable card price + 500 fee) — so spend the balance down instead of refunding a small amount.
The card price never comes back, whatever the balance.
For a tourist with a nearly empty card on the last day, spending the last few thousand won at a convenience store beats paying the fee.
If I were choosing today, I would buy the Travel Card at ₩4,000 over a standard card and pay the difference in nothing — the price is lower and the recharge options are the same.
What I check first before any refund is whether the balance is even worth the 500 KRW fee; if not, I spend it down instead.
👉 Korea festivals in September 2026
👉 T-money charging and refunds for foreigners
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Sources
- Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, Ministop); (hellokoreaguide.com)
- K-Pass residents only; WOWPASS tourists ₩5,000, 16 foreign c (82crafted.com)
- Only brief.md anchor (1,400-won range, 2026-01-01); no prima (lacha.co.kr)
T-money 2026 quick summary
- Buy at any GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, or Ministop counter — ‘T-money juseyo’ — for about ₩4,000–5,000, a purchase cost that is never refunded.
- The 2026 Seoul base fare is in the 1,400-won range, with free bus-subway transfers within about 30 minutes.
- Foreign Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay cards recharge at the new subway kiosks (about 440 units since March 17, 2026, ~3.7% fee); the mobile app takes Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay but not Visa.
- Refund limits: under 20,000 KRW at GS25, up to 30,000 KRW at CU/emart24, up to 50,000 KRW at subway customer centers — minus a 500 KRW fee unless the balance is below 1,550 KRW.
- Tourists get no benefit from K-Pass (ARC required); WOWPASS only matters if you want to top up in foreign currency.
FAQ
Q. Where can I buy a T-money card in Korea in 2026?
At the counter of GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24, or Ministop — say ‘T-money juseyo’. The card costs about ₩4,000–5,000 depending on design and source, so confirm the price at the counter.
Q. How much is the Seoul subway fare in 2026?
The 2026 Seoul metropolitan basic transit fare sits in the 1,400-won range, effective January 1, 2026, with free bus-subway transfers within about 30 minutes.
Q. Can I charge a T-money card with a foreign credit card?
Yes, at the new subway kiosks deployed March 17, 2026 — they accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay with an average service fee of about 3.7%. The Mobile T-money app takes foreign Mastercard, Amex, and UnionPay since March 18, 2026, but not Visa.
Q. Can I tap the subway gate with a credit card instead of T-money?
No. The subway turnstiles do not take credit cards directly — the new kiosks accept foreign cards only for recharging a T-money card, not for gate entry.
Q. What is the T-money refund limit at convenience stores?
GS25 refunds balances under 20,000 KRW, 7-Eleven up to 20,000 KRW, and CU and emart24 up to 30,000 KRW. Above that, go to a subway station customer center for up to 50,000 KRW, minus a 500 KRW fee unless the balance is below 1,550 KRW.
Check the fare and kiosk locations again in October 2026, when the fall travel season may bring further updates to foreign-card payment at stations.
Cover photo: AI-generated illustration (transit card ticket) — AI-generated image, illustrative only
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