Korean Transit Cards Explained: Single-Journey, T-money and Passes
There is no single card for everything. For AREX and the Seoul subway you can use a one-use ticket, a rechargeable T-money card or a Seoul pass. Airport limousine buses are separate: see what you can pay with on the airport bus.
Draft: the payment facts in this guide come from the operators' official pages and have not yet been checked by a person. Confirm with the operator before you rely on them.
The options
| Option | What it is | Where to get it and how to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single-journey ticket | One trip on AREX and the Seoul subway. On AREX the fare plus KRW 100 and a KRW 500 deposit, which you get back at a deposit-refund machine when you leave. | Ticket machines in the stations. Since 17 March 2026 the new Seoul subway machines (273 stations, Lines 1 to 8) take foreign credit and debit cards as well as cash. |
| T-money Travel Card | A rechargeable contactless card for subway, bus, taxi and the airport bus. Price KRW 4,000 (Travel Card+ with WOWPASS, KRW 6,000). | Convenience stores, and the Incheon Airport bus ticket offices for the standard card. Top up with cash. |
| Climate Card short-term pass | Unlimited Seoul subway and city bus rides for 1 to 7 days (KRW 5,000 to 20,000) plus KRW 3,000 for the card; see the airport rules. | Subway machines and nearby convenience stores; foreign cards are accepted at the new machines. |
| WOWPASS | A prepaid card with currency exchange; its transport (T-money) balance is separate from the shopping balance. A KRW 5,000 membership fee, not refundable. | Machines at Incheon Airport and some Seoul stations, against your passport and cash. The T-money balance is topped up with won cash at subway ticket machines and convenience stores, or by moving WOWPASS balance to it in the app. |
| Phone | iPhone: the MobileTmoney app with a Mastercard in Apple Wallet (April 2026). Android: the KOREA TOUR CARD app. | In the app; the physical Korea Tour Card is no longer sold. |
| Youth card | Ages 13 to 18 pay 20% less on AREX. | A prepaid youth transport card. |
Which should you pick?
- One short trip: a single-journey ticket.
- Several days in Seoul: a Travel Card topped up with cash, or the Climate Card pass if you ride a lot inside Seoul.
- You only have a foreign card: a single ticket or a Climate Card pass from the new machines; see foreign cards on the subway and bus.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a single-journey ticket?
- A one-use ticket for AREX and the Seoul subway. On AREX it costs the fare plus KRW 100, with a KRW 500 deposit that you get back at a deposit-refund machine when you leave.
- How much is a T-money card for tourists?
- The T-money Travel Card is KRW 4,000 (KRW 6,000 for the version with WOWPASS), sold at convenience stores; the standard card is also sold at the Incheon Airport bus ticket offices.
- Is there a discount for teenagers?
- AREX lists a youth transport card for ages 13 to 18 with 20% off the fare.
Related
Sources: T-money: foreign visitor cards · AREX: terms of carriage (Korean, 2025-12-26) · Seoul city: foreign cards at the new ticket machines (Korean, 2026-03-16) · Seoul city: Climate Card short-term pass (Korean) · WOWPASS: FAQ · WOWPASS: service guide · Mastercard: iPhone transit payments in Korea (9 April 2026). Checked 2026-11-09. Fares, times and rules change: confirm with the operator before you travel.