Guides · Trip essentials

T-money, WOWPASS & Climate Card: How to Pay for Buses and Subways in Korea

Last checked: 2026-10-31

Quick answer

Get a transit card on day one. A T-money card (or a WOWPASS, which has T-money built in) works on subways and buses across Korea, including Busan.
Tap in and tap out, on buses too. In Seoul, transfers within 30 minutes (60 minutes from 21:00 to 07:00) are free or discounted, but only with a card.
Staying in Seoul and riding a lot? The Climate Card short-term pass gives unlimited Seoul subway and bus rides for 1–7 days (5,000–20,000 won). It does not work in Busan.
You can't tap a foreign credit card at the gate yet. Carry some Korean cash for top-ups.

Which card should you get?

	T-money	WOWPASS	Climate Card (short-term)
What it is	Standard prepaid transit card	Prepaid payment card for visitors with a T-money transit balance	Unlimited-ride pass for Seoul
Card price	3,000–5,000 won	See machine/app	3,000 won card + pass
Where it works	Buses and subways nationwide	Same as T-money for transit, plus shops	Seoul only (details below)
Best for	Everyone, especially trips outside Seoul	One card for transit and shopping	Busy Seoul days

T-money: buy, top up, refund

Where to buy

Per VISITKOREA: convenience stores nationwide (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and others) and Seoul subway information centers on Lines 1–8. The card costs 3,000–5,000 won and starts with no balance.

How to top up

Cash at subway machines or convenience store counters. This works everywhere.
Foreign cards: since March 2026, the Mobile T-money app on iPhone accepts overseas-issued cards. Tmoney's app notes list Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay and JCB (JCB added in July), not Visa. Check the app.
Seoul's new subway kiosks take foreign cards for single-journey tickets and Climate Card passes, but the city didn't mention regular T-money top-ups. Bring some cash.

Refunds

Ask at the refund point about terms for your leftover balance. VISITKOREA says refunds over 50,000 won are handled only at Tmoney Town in Seoul Station.

WOWPASS: what it is

WOWPASS is a prepaid card for visitors: a payment card for shops plus a T-money transit balance.

Get it from self-service machines at stations, hotels and other spots, or reserve one online before your trip.
Load money with cash in 16 currencies at the machines, or in the app with international cards and e-wallets.
Two separate balances. Your shopping balance does not pay for the subway. WOWPASS says the T-money balance must be topped up separately.
Top up the transit side with cash at stations and convenience stores. Or, per WOWPASS's guide, open the T-money app, choose Top-up, hold your WOWPASS card to your phone (NFC), and select "Top-up with WOWPASS."
Cash withdrawal from WOWPASS machines: up to 100,000 won each time, 1,000 won fee. Fees and limits change, so check the app.

Seoul Climate Card for tourists (2026)

Is it still available?

Yes, the short-term passes are. The 30-day pass ended on October 1, 2026 (Seoul city). The 1/2/3/5/7-day passes remain.

Prices

Pass	Price
1 day	5,000 won
2 days	8,000 won
3 days	10,000 won
5 days	15,000 won
7 days	20,000 won

Plus 3,000 won for the physical card. Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government (page updated October 12, 2026).

What it covers (from October 1, 2026)

Included: subways within Seoul; Seoul-licensed city and village buses (including night buses); and getting off at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 or 2 on AREX.
Not included: Shinbundang Line, GTX, subways outside Seoul, express (red) and airport buses, and buses licensed by other cities. Ttareungyi bikes and the Hangang Bus aren't included either.
Ride from a covered station to one outside the area and you pay the full fare.

How the days count

The pass starts the day you charge it and ends with the last train of the final day. It isn't 24-hour blocks, and you can't charge in advance, so charge it in the morning.

Where to buy and charge

Seoul tourist information centers, and Seoul Metro information centers on Lines 1–8 (cash only, per VISITKOREA)
Convenience stores near Line 9, Ui-Sinseol and Sillim Line stations
New ticket kiosks at 273 stations on Lines 1–8: since March 17, 2026, these accept foreign Visa/Mastercard for the card and short-term passes, with a service fee of about 3.7% on average (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

VISITKOREA's page still says cash or Korean cards only, so carry cash in case a kiosk won't take yours.

Refunds: register the card on the T-money website first, or you can't get one. Visitors without a Korean bank account can get cash back at T-money headquarters.

How to pay on buses and subways

Subway

Tap your card at the gate going in.
Tap again going out. Fares are distance-based; the adult base fare by card is 1,550 won (since June 28, 2025).

Bus

Board at the front door and tap the reader.
Press the stop button before your stop.
Tap again when you get off at the back door, or the next ride won't count as a transfer. Seoul's blue and green buses cost 1,500 won (adult, by card).

Transfer rules (Seoul area)

Board the next bus or subway within 30 minutes of getting off (60 minutes from 21:00 to 07:00).
Up to 5 rides in a row count as one trip.
Transfer discounts only apply with a transit card, not cash.
If the next ride costs more, you pay the difference.

Some Seoul buses don't accept cash, so don't plan on paying the driver in cash.

AREX (Airport Railroad) basics

AREX links Incheon Airport and Seoul Station with two kinds of train:

All-stop train: part of the subway network; tap T-money or WOWPASS. Stops include Gimpo Airport, Hongik Univ. (Hongdae) and Gongdeok.
Express train: non-stop Seoul Station–Incheon Airport, separate ticket. AREX lists the adult fare as 13,000 won and also shows a higher regular fare (checked 2026-10-30), so confirm the price when you buy.

Climate Card on AREX: you can board at AREX's six Seoul stations (Seoul Station, Gongdeok, Hongik Univ., Digital Media City, Magongnaru, Gimpo Airport) and get off at Incheon Airport T1/T2 at no extra cost. You can't board at Incheon Airport with it, so pay with T-money when you arrive. The Express needs a separate ticket.

Busan: what's different

The Climate Card doesn't work in Busan. Use T-money or WOWPASS and pay per ride.
Busan Metro charges by section.
Tap when you get off the bus in Busan too.
VISITKOREA lists a K-Tour Pass for Busan for foreign visitors (valid through December 31, 2026) with a WOWPASS card and transport coupons.

FAQ

How do I pay for the bus in Korea?

Tap a T-money card (or WOWPASS) on the reader when you board at the front, and tap again when you get off. Foreign credit cards can't be tapped on Seoul buses and subways yet, and cash gets no transfer discount.

Can I use the Climate Card in Busan?

No. It covers Seoul only: Seoul subways, Seoul-licensed buses, and getting off at Incheon Airport on AREX. In Busan, use T-money or WOWPASS.

Do I need to tap out on Korean buses?

Yes, tap when you get off. If you don't, your next bus or subway ride won't count as a transfer, and you'll pay a new fare.

Where can I buy a T-money card?

At convenience stores such as GS25, CU and 7-Eleven, and at Seoul subway information centers on Lines 1–8. Top it up with cash at subway machines or store counters.