T-money Card Guide: Buy, Top Up and Use

By Dragon Kim · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read

How much is a T-money card and where do I buy it?

A standard card costs about 3,000 to 5,000 won, and you can buy one at most convenience stores and at information centers in Seoul subway stations. VisitKorea names GS25, CU and 7-Eleven, and says the subway information centers are in stations on Lines 1 to 8. The Visit Seoul transportation page gives a price of 3,000 won and also lists tourist information centers.

The Mpass is a different, foreigner-only product, and our Seoul transit passes comparison explains when a pass beats a plain card. Some cards are sold with a lanyard or a smaller design at higher prices, according to Wikipedia, so check the price before you pay.

How do I top up a T-money card?

Tap the card on a subway ticket machine or hand cash to a convenience store clerk and say the amount. Visit Seoul lists subway stations, convenience stores, vendor stalls, bank ATMs, fare adjustment machines near the turnstiles and the Tmoney Pay app as top-up points, while VisitKorea says the reload limit is 500,000 won.

1. Choose an amount. Start with 10,000 to 20,000 won for a few days in Seoul, depending on how much you ride.
2. Find a top-up point. Use a subway ticket machine, which has an English menu, or any convenience store near your hotel.
3. Pay in cash. A third-party guide reports that credit cards are not accepted for top-ups, so keep notes handy. Our cash or card guide covers how much to carry.
4. Tap in and out. Touch the card on the gate or bus reader when you board and again when you leave, so the system can charge the right fare.
5. Check your balance. The reader shows what is left, and you can top up again before it runs out.

Practical example: with a 1,550 won subway fare, a 10,000 won top-up covers about six rides, so a visitor planning three days of sightseeing with two or three rides a day would usually load 20,000 won and add more only if needed. Check the live fare in our Seoul subway guide.

Where can I use a T-money card?

It works on city subways and buses across Korea, on taxis that show the T-money logo, and at many convenience stores, but not on reserved-seat trains like the KTX. VisitKorea lists public transportation, expressway toll gates, affiliated stores that show the logo and vending machines in subway stations.

• Subways and buses: Wikipedia lists the Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju metros and all public buses nationwide. Our Seoul city bus guide shows how to tap on and off.
• Airport trains and buses: A third-party guide says the card works on AREX all-stop trains but not the express train. See the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide for your options.
• Shops and sights: Wikipedia lists convenience stores such as GS25 and CU, and several palaces. Check acceptance at the counter before buying.
• Not accepted: KTX, ITX and other reserved-seat trains need their own tickets, according to a third-party guide. Our KTX booking guide explains how.

How do T-money transfer discounts work?

You can transfer between subways and buses without paying a second base fare if you tap in and out and transfer within the time limit. The Visit Seoul page says the transfer must happen within 30 minutes of getting off, or one hour between 21:00 and 07:00, and within 10 km, with up to four free transfers.

• Tap out every time: Visit Seoul says the transfer is made by scanning the card when getting on and off, so forgetting to tap out can cost you the discount.
• Subway to subway: Transfers between subway lines are free inside the system, as long as you do not exit the gates.
• One card per rider: A third-party guide reports that several passengers sharing one card do not receive transfer discounts.

The fare itself is 1,550 won on the subway with a transport card and 1,650 won with a single-use ticket since June 28, 2025, as covered in our subway guide. The Visit Seoul fare table shows older 2023 prices, so rely on the newer figure and confirm at the gate.

How do I get a T-money refund?

You can get the unused balance back but not the card price, either at a convenience store for smaller balances or at the Tmoney headquarters for larger ones. According to Visit Seoul, balances under 20,000 won can be refunded at convenience stores for a small fee, and larger balances go to T-money headquarters at Tmoney Town on the first floor of SeoulCity Tower, Namdaemun-ro 5-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul.

• The fee: A third-party guide reports a 500 won refund fee and full refunds only, but the official pages I read do not state the fee, so confirm it at the machine.
• Different thresholds: VisitKorea says refunds above 50,000 won are only possible at Tmoney Town, while Visit Seoul uses 20,000 won. Plan around the stricter rule if you are carrying a large balance.
• Easier option: Spend the balance on a last convenience store purchase or your airport train ride, since the card also pays at many shops.

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