Traveling to Korea is so convenient, paying for almost everything from eating, playing, traveling to shopping with just 1 powerful T-Money card. Find out now with Living Nomads through this article ‘All you need to know about T-Money Card: Price, How to get, Top-up, Use, Refund & MORE’!

T-Money card with lovely Line character.
T-Money card with lovely Line character. | T-Money Card guide

Cashless payment methods have become more popular than ever, and Korea is no exception to this trend. Now, you can top up and pay with an extremely compact T-Money card without having to carry bulky cash.

Not only convenient, the T-Money card is also extremely safe and has many attractive promotions. Let’s find out with us on how to buy and use this powerful card!

Why Should You Have a T-Money Card When Traveling to Korea?

You can add money to your T-money card at the machines in the subway or at any convenience store (7-11, GS-25, etc).
| T-Money Card guide

5G eSIM South Korea | SKT

Korea is rapidly entering the cashless era, and this is most evident when traveling by public transport. In Seoul, nearly a quarter of buses have stopped accepting cash altogether, and in Daejeon, you won’t be able to pay cash when boarding. This trend is spreading, and soon, transportation cards will become the only “passport” for you to easily travel throughout the kimchi country.

With the T-Money card, every journey becomes simpler and more economical. Instead of having to prepare small change (and remember that buses don’t give change) or jostling to buy tickets at the subway station, you just need to tap the card and go straight.

| T-Money Card guide

T-money Card

In particular, the fare when paying with T-Money is always cheaper than paying with cash, helping you save quite a bit on transportation costs. Traveling to Korea without worrying about bus tickets or small change, that’s why the T-Money card is always on the “must-have” item when coming here.

Where to buy a T-Money card when traveling to Korea?

| T-Money Card guide

Korea Intercity Express Bus Ticket

You can find T-Money cards in many places in Korea, from Incheon Airport, convenience stores to train stations and bus stops. As soon as you land at the airport, you can buy a card to start your journey of discovery, or visit convenience store chains such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven to own one right away. Subway stations also have card counters, extremely convenient if you want to buy and top up on the spot.

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Getting around Seoul and Busan with T-money card purchased at convenience stores at the airport or in the city. The card fee (without the money) is 4.000 won, and top up additional 10.000 won to travel. | T-Money Card guide

And of course, you have an even faster way: order a T-Money card directly on Klook before your trip. You will receive the card as soon as you arrive, without wasting time looking for it, and you can rest assured about using it because the card is ready to top up and travel around Seoul or any city in Korea. Easy to buy, simple to use, and cost-saving are the reasons why the T-Money card is definitely an indispensable companion for every trip to Korea.

How Much Does a T-Money Card Cost?

Multi-function T-money card | T-Money Card guide

T-money Card

If you pre-order a T-Money card at Klook, you have two options: Buy just the card or have 10,000 KRW in your account.

Buy just the card: 97,454 VND

Buy the card with 10,000 KRW in your account: 292,372 VND

Where Can I Use the T-Money Card in Korea?

Originally designed as a transportation card, T-Money allows you to pay for bus and subway tickets in most Korean cities. However, the card’s utility doesn’t stop there, as you can now use T-Money to pay for small purchases at some stores, cafes, restaurants, and even tourist attractions.

Using the T-Money Card on the Bus

| T-Money Card guide

Riding the bus in Korea with the T-Money card is extremely simple. When boarding, simply tap your card on the scanner at the front door to start your ride, and tap again at the middle door when exiting to end your ride. Most city buses in Korea have entrances at the front and exits in the middle, with T-Money card scanners located at both locations.

Normally, the bus fare is fixed, but if the distance exceeds 10km, you will be charged an additional fee. In case you forget to tap your card when exiting, the system may charge this additional fee by default. So remember to tap-in when boarding and tap-out when exiting to ensure you pay the correct price and avoid unnecessary extra charges!

Using the T-Money Card on the Subway

The T-Money card is accepted on all subway systems in Korea, including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju. When you start your ride, simply tap your card on the ticket gate to pass through, and tap again when you end your ride. If you run out of money on your card, you can still top it up at the top-up machines inside the gate area (note: top-up machines usually only accept cash).

| T-Money Card guide

Like buses, most short-distance trains have a fixed fare. However, if you travel long distances or make multiple transfers, the cost can add up, so always make sure you have enough money on your card to ensure your journey is not interrupted and you are charged correctly.

Use T-Money Card to Take a Taxi

Seoul – Jeonju KTX Train Ticket

You can absolutely use the T-Money card to pay for taxis in Korea. It’s quick and convenient, no need to take out a credit card or prepare small change. Just make sure the taxi has the T-Money logo, you hand the card to the driver, they will scan it through the reader and the transaction will be completed immediately.

If you want to book a taxi to your place, the Kakao Taxi app is a popular and easy-to-use choice, supporting English, Korean and Chinese, working on both Android and iPhone. This app helps you call a car, track the route, and even pay directly, providing a more convenient travel experience when in Korea.

Use T-Money Card to Pay for Shopping

N Seoul Tower Observatory Ticket

The T-Money card is not only useful for traveling but also convenient for buying small items such as drinks, coffee or snacks. Just by seeing the T-Money logo, you can use the card to quickly pay for goods and services.

In Korea, T-Money cards are accepted at most convenience stores such as CU, GS25, Emart24, 7-Eleven, as well as many supermarkets and large chain stores. You can use the card to shop at Home Plus, Emart, or buy cosmetics at The Face Shop, Innisfree, Tony Moly and many other brands. Convenient, cashless, and only takes a few seconds to pay, the T-Money card is truly a “pocket wallet” for all your needs during your trip to Korea.

Transfer Discounts

| T-Money Card guide

When you transfer from the subway to the bus or vice versa within 30 minutes, the system will automatically apply the discount to the next trip, as long as you have tapped the card at the end of the previous journey. This saves a lot of money if you often have to change means of transport to reach your final destination.

Additionally, if you accidentally enter the wrong subway gate, some lines allow you to leave within 10 minutes without being charged. This is a small but useful “lifesaver”, especially for those new to Korea’s extensive subway network.

If you choose to buy a Korea Tour Card (a special version of T-Money) at the Incheon Airport Transfer Center, your trip will be even more enjoyable with a series of special offers for tourists. For example, you get a 30% discount on admission to N Seoul Tower and a 20% discount on admission to COEX Aquarium, along with many other discounts at attractions, shops, entertainment areas and restaurants across Korea.

Where You Can’t Use the T-Money Card in Korea

KTX train | T-Money Card guide

KORAIL PASS – KTX Train Ticket

The T-Money card offers many benefits, but there are still limitations you should be aware of. You cannot use the T-Money card to buy intercity train tickets, including the KTX – Korea’s high-speed train network. Similarly, you cannot swipe your card directly when boarding an intercity bus like you can with a city bus. However, you can still use T-Money to buy an intercity bus ticket at a ticket counter or machine, then use that ticket to board the bus.

In general, T-Money cards are widely accepted in major cities across Korea, especially at popular tourist destinations. In case T-Money is not accepted, you still have other options such as Cashbee cards or cash payments.

How to Top Up Your T-Money Card Quickly and Easily

| T-Money Card guide

Top Up at a Subway Station Automatic Machine

Go to the machine or card recharge near the ticket gate, select the “Recharge” function, enter the amount you want to top up, insert cash (KRW) into the slot and place the card on the reader to complete. The machine only accepts cash and can display English, which is very convenient for tourists.

Top Up at Convenience Stores

Visit chain stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24… and give the T-Money card and cash to the staff, they will scan the card and top up the amount you requested. This is a quick way, especially if you are not near a subway station.

t money top up
When the T-Money card runs out of money, you can top it up with an automatic machine right inside the station, with English guide for foreigners. Choose to top up from 5.000 – 30.000 won/time.

Limits and Notes When Top Up

Only cash is accepted, you cannot top up by bank card or transfer. The minimum top up is 1,000 KRW per time, the maximum balance is about 500,000 KRW. Always make sure the card has enough money before boarding the bus or train to avoid interruptions in your journey.

How to Check the Balance of Your T-Money Card

  • When swiping the card on the subway or bus: The scanner screen will display the fare and remaining balance.
  • At the ticket machine or T-Money top up station: Check the balance before topping up or even without topping up.
  • Via the T-Money app on your phone (NFC): Scan your card to check your balance, but be careful as some users have reported that the app may have errors.

How to Refund Your T-Money Card Balance

You can get your remaining balance back on your T-Money card at major convenience stores, subway stations across Korea, or the T-Money headquarters in Seoul. Refunds will be paid in cash and partial refunds are not applicable.

The refund fee is 500 won, which is deducted directly from your existing balance. The initial card purchase cost is non-refundable, but you can still keep the card after the refund. T-Money cards do not have an expiration date, so you can reuse them for future trips to Korea or give them to friends.

The balance on the card will remain valid for 5 years from the last top-up. If you plan to return to Korea during this time and the remaining amount is not too large, it is best to keep it as is to save time recharging when returning.

T-Money Card FAQs

t money card korea
T-money card

What is the T-Money card used for?

T-Money is a convenient payment card in Korea, used to ride the subway, buses, taxis, and even to buy things at convenience stores, vending machines, and many tourist attractions.

Where can I buy a T-Money card?

You can buy it at convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Ministop, or at ticket counters at subway stations. Klook also sells pre-loaded T-Money cards that you can pick up at Incheon Airport.

How much does a T-Money card cost?

The card usually costs around 2,500–4,000 won (excluding the top-up fee). This is the card purchase fee and is non-refundable.

Transportation Cards
Swipe T-money card on bus

Where can I top up my T-Money card?

It is easy to top up at convenience stores, subway station top-up machines or automated kiosks. Just hand the card to the staff or follow the instructions on the machine screen.

Can T-Money cards be used in all cities?

Most major cities such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju accept T-Money. However, some smaller areas may not support it, so you should check before going.

Can the balance from one T-Money card be transferred to another?

No. Each card is independent, the balance cannot be transferred to another card.

Get yourself a T-Money card for your next trip to Korea!

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