You land at Incheon, walk toward the train, and hit the first real question of your trip: which transit card should you buy? T-money, the Climate Card, WOWPASS... and can't you just tap your Visa like you do at home?
Short answer: for most visitors, a plain T-money card is the safe default, and the Climate Card short-term pass is the money-saver if you'll ride a lot inside Seoul. And no, you can't tap a foreign credit card at Seoul's subway gates yet. Here's how to pick, step by step.
At a Glance
- T-money is a rechargeable card that works on subways, buses and many taxis across Korea. Top-ups are mostly cash.
- The Climate Card short-term pass gives unlimited Seoul subway and city bus rides: ₩5,000 for 1 day up to ₩20,000 for 7 days, plus ₩3,000 for the card.
- WOWPASS is a prepaid payment card with a T-money function built in. Handy for shopping, but the transit balance is separate.
- Foreign cards can buy and recharge passes at new subway kiosks (about 3.7% fee), but you can't tap them at the gate as of Oct 14, 2026.
- Leaving Seoul? T-money (or WOWPASS's T-money side) is what travels with you.
First, the Big Myth: Can I Tap My Own Credit Card?
Not yet. This trips up a lot of people coming from London, Sydney or New York, where you just tap your bank card.
What changed in 2026 is the kiosks. Since March 17, 2026, Seoul has 440 new transit card vending machines at 273 stations on Lines 1–8. They accept international Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards and mobile payments, so you can buy a Climate Card, recharge a short-term pass, or buy a single-journey ticket without cash. The city says an average service fee of about 3.7% applies to these foreign-card payments.
Direct tap-to-pay with foreign cards is coming, but on buses first. Tmoney has announced plans to launch it on Seoul city buses in 2027, with testing through the end of 2026. Until then, you need a Korean transit card or a ticket.
The Cards, Explained Simply
T-money (티머니): the all-rounder
T-money is a stored-value card. You load money, then tap on and off. Each ride takes the fare from your balance.
Why it's the default: it works outside Seoul too, on subways and buses around the country, and you get the cheaper card fare. In Seoul an adult subway ride within 10 km costs ₩1,550 with a card, versus ₩1,650 with a single-journey ticket.
Where to buy and top up: T-money's official foreigner guide lists convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24 and others) and subway station top-up machines. Plan on cash for most top-ups.
Refunds: you get your leftover balance back in cash at T-money sales or top-up locations, minus a ₩500 service fee. The price of the card itself is not refunded. Partial refunds (₩10,000–₩50,000, in ₩10,000 steps) are only done at Tmoney Town or a T-money service center in a subway station.
Climate Card (기후동행카드) short-term pass: unlimited Seoul rides
Think of it as an all-you-can-ride pass for Seoul. You pay once and tap as much as you like for the chosen number of days.
| Pass | Price (as checked on Oct 14, 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 day | ₩5,000 |
| 2 days | ₩8,000 |
| 3 days | ₩10,000 |
| 5 days | ₩15,000 |
| 7 days | ₩20,000 |
The physical card is sold separately for ₩3,000. Ttareungi (Seoul's public bikes) and the Hangang Bus (river boat) are not included in short-term passes.
Two details matter a lot:
- The clock starts the day you charge it. A 1-day pass charged on Monday is valid until the last train or bus on Monday. You can't charge it in advance. So don't load a pass at 9 p.m. on arrival night.
- The coverage shrank on Oct 1, 2026. Short-term passes now cover Seoul's subway area plus trips ending at Incheon Airport (T1, T2), and Seoul-licensed city and village buses. Nearby cities such as Gimpo, Goyang and Seongnam are no longer included.
You may have read that the Climate Card "ended" in September 2026. That was the 30-day pass for residents, which moved to a new system. The Seoul Metropolitan Government says the 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 7-day short-term passes continue.
Refund note: the city says unregistered physical cards can't get refunds. Registration is done on the Tmoney Card & Pay website.
WOWPASS: a travel money card with T-money inside
WOWPASS is a prepaid card aimed at foreign visitors. It has two separate wallets, which is where people get confused:
- WOWPASS balance: for shopping. You insert the card's chip at stores that take Korean cards.
- T-money balance: for transit. You tap it at subway gates and on buses.
The official FAQ is clear that the T-money side must be topped up separately. In the app you can move money from WOWPASS balance to T-money (the FAQ says iOS only for now), but not the other way.
Fees on the official FAQ, as checked on Oct 14, 2026: a ₩6,000 first registration fee (not refundable), ₩1,000 for cash withdrawal, and ₩4,000 to reissue a card. One catch: if you reissue, the T-money balance stays on the old card and does not transfer.
Is it worth it just for transit? Usually not. It makes sense if you also want a way to pay in shops without carrying lots of cash.
Single-journey ticket: the backup
Buy it at a station machine, pay the fare plus a ₩500 deposit, and get the deposit back from the "Deposit Refund Device" at your destination. Fine for one ride. Annoying for a whole trip.
Korea Tour Card
This is a tourist version of a transit card backed by the Korea Tourism Organization, sold online and at places like airports and convenience stores. It works like a regular stored-value card and adds tourist discount offers. We couldn't confirm its current price and perks on an official page today, so check VisitKorea's tourist card page before you buy.
Comparison Table
| T-money | Climate Card (short-term) | WOWPASS | Single-journey ticket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Any trip, any city | Heavy riding inside Seoul | Transit + shopping in one card | One-off rides |
| Card cost | Varies by design (not refunded) | ₩3,000 | ₩6,000 registration fee | ₩500 deposit (refundable) |
| How you pay for rides | Per ride (₩1,550 base subway fare) | ₩5,000–₩20,000 flat for 1–7 days | Per ride from T-money balance | ₩1,650 base subway fare |
| Charging with a foreign card | Mostly cash | Yes, at new kiosks (~3.7% fee) | T-money side via app (iOS) from WOWPASS balance | Yes, at new kiosks |
| Works outside Seoul | Yes | No (Seoul + trips ending at Incheon Airport) | Yes (T-money side) | Seoul-area subway |
| Refund | Balance minus ₩500 fee | Registered cards only | T-money side: T-money rules, ₩500 fee | Deposit back at exit |
Decision Flowchart by Trip Length
Ask yourself these in order:
- Leaving Seoul at all (Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju)? Get T-money. The Climate Card won't work there. You can still add a short-term Climate Pass for your Seoul days on a separate card.
- Only in Seoul for 1–2 days? T-money is usually simplest. You'd need four or more rides a day for a 1-day pass (₩5,000) to beat ₩1,550 per ride.
- In Seoul for 3–7 days and out all day? The Climate Card short-term pass is likely cheaper. Five days for ₩15,000 works out to ₩3,000 a day, roughly two rides' worth.
- Staying more than 7 days? Chain short-term passes, or switch to T-money for quieter days.
- Want one card for transit and shopping? WOWPASS, if you're fine with the registration fee and two balances.
Real Examples (With Budgets)
Mia, 3 days in Seoul, out from morning to night. She rides about 5 times a day. Paying per ride: 15 rides × ₩1,550 = ₩23,250 (more if any ride goes past 10 km). A 3-day Climate pass: ₩10,000 + ₩3,000 card = ₩13,000. The pass wins.
Daniel, 2 days in Seoul, then KTX to Busan for 3 days. He buys one T-money card and uses it in both cities. Simple, no worrying about coverage. Before flying home, he spends the balance down and refunds the rest at a convenience store (minus ₩500).
Aiko and Sam, 7-day Seoul trip, mostly walking neighborhoods. Two rides a day each is 14 rides, about ₩21,700 at the base fare. The 7-day pass is ₩20,000 + ₩3,000. Close call. If you'll walk a lot, T-money keeps it flexible.
These are base-fare estimates. Longer trips cost a bit more per ride, which tips the math further toward the pass.
Arriving at the Airport: What to Do First
Most visitors pick up a card in the arrivals area or at the airport railroad station. A few practical points:
- Have a little Korean cash if you plan to top up T-money. Convenience store top-ups are usually cash.
- If you choose the Climate Card, think about the date. Charging a 1-day pass late on arrival night wastes most of it. A T-money ride into the city that night, then a pass from the next morning, is often smarter.
- Short-term Climate passes cover trips ending at Incheon Airport, which helps on departure day. For the inbound trip, check the kiosk or station staff.
For full airport-to-city options, see our guide on getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul.
Leaving Korea: Getting Your Money Back
For T-money, ask a convenience store or station T-money location to refund your balance. You'll get cash minus ₩500. Many stores only handle smaller balances, so don't load more than you'll use. If you have a large balance, Tmoney Town at Seoul Station Exit 10 (Seoul City Tower 1F) is the official place for bigger and partial refunds.
For a Climate Card, refunds need a registered card. Since passes are cheap and day-based, the easiest plan is to buy only the days you need.
Cautions
- Tap on and off on buses, too. Transfer discounts depend on it.
- One card per person. You can't share a card through the gate with a friend.
- WOWPASS has two balances. "I topped up but the gate says no" usually means you loaded the shopping side, not the T-money side.
- The Climate Card no longer covers nearby cities like Goyang or Seongnam since Oct 1, 2026.
- Foreign-card kiosks are on Lines 1–8. Not every machine at every station takes foreign cards.
Pre-Trip Checklist
- ☐ Decide: leaving Seoul? If yes, plan on T-money.
- ☐ Count your Seoul days and rough rides per day.
- ☐ Bring a small amount of Korean cash for T-money top-ups.
- ☐ Expect about a 3.7% fee when paying at kiosks with a foreign card.
- ☐ Charge Climate passes on the morning you start riding, not the night before.
- ☐ Using WOWPASS? Top up the T-money side separately.
- ☐ Last day: spend down or refund your T-money balance.
Q
Q. Can I use Apple Pay at the subway gate?
Not with a foreign card. Mobile payments are accepted at the new kiosks for buying and recharging, not at the gate.
Q. Does the Climate Card work on the subway to Incheon Airport?
Since Oct 1, 2026, short-term passes cover trips ending at Incheon Airport T1 and T2, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Q. Can I use T-money in taxis?
Many taxis accept it, and WOWPASS says its T-money side works on taxis too. Ask the driver if you're unsure.
Q. Is the T-money card price refunded?
No. Only the remaining balance, minus ₩500.
Q. When can I just tap my Visa on a bus?
Tmoney plans to launch it on Seoul city buses in 2027. No exact date has been confirmed for the subway.
Sources
All fares, prices and refund rules as checked on Oct 14, 2026:
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Climate Card
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Climate Card short-term pass (Korean)
- SMG – Climate Pass transition FAQ
- SMG – International credit cards at transit kiosks (Mar 17, 2026)
- SMG – Subway fares and Seoul Metro – Single-journey ticket
- T-money – Foreigner Guide
- WOWPASS – Official FAQ and WOWPASS – How to Use
- The Korea Herald – Foreign cards to work on Seoul buses from 2027