If you are visiting Korea short-term, T-money (티머니) is sold for cash at convenience stores and works from arrival. If you are a registered foreign resident with an Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증), you can also enroll in K-Pass (K-패스), which refunds a percentage of your monthly transit fares.
The four transit payment options in Korea
These four things are often described together, but they are different kinds of things.
T-money (티머니) is a prepaid stored-value card. You load cash onto it and tap it at subway gates, bus doors, and taxi card readers. The balance lives on the card itself. Pick one up at a convenience store near any subway station; no registration is required.
Cashbee (캐시비) is a competing prepaid card brand. It works on the same gates as T-money. For most people, T-money is easier to find near subway stations, but both work nationwide.
A postpaid transit card (후불교통카드) is a transit-payment function built into a Korean credit card. Fares are billed to your monthly statement instead of drawn from a stored balance. This is not a separate product to buy: you need a Korean credit card.
The Climate Card (기후동행카드) is Seoul City's unlimited-ride period pass. It is not stored-value. You buy a period of unlimited travel: 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days. The 30-day pass ends October 1, 2026. Coverage includes Seoul subway and some Gyeonggi-province subway sections, Seoul-licensed buses, and optionally the Ttareungyi (따릉이) bike-share and Han River ferry.
K-Pass (K-패스) is a national cash-refund program run by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (국토교통부), restructured in 2026 under the name 모두의카드. You are issued a dedicated K-Pass card by a participating card company, register it on the K-Pass site or app, then tap it to ride. K-Pass refunds a percentage of your monthly transit spending after you meet the 15-ride monthly minimum.
Which option is right for you?
Short-term visitors: no Alien Registration Card needed
These three options work from the day you arrive:
- T-money or Cashbee: pick up a card at a convenience store near any subway station, pay cash at the register, and tap at any gate, bus door, or taxi reader. No bank account needed.
- Short-term Climate Card pass (1 to 7 days): as of March 17, 2026, purchasable with a foreign Visa or Mastercard at 440 new ticket machines installed across 273 stations on Seoul subway Lines 1 to 8. An average service fee of about 3.7% applies (source: news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/516544). A good choice if you plan multiple rides per day.
- Single-use tickets: also purchasable with a foreign Visa or Mastercard at those same ticket machines from the first train on March 17, 2026. Each single-use ticket costs ₩1,650. You insert ₩2,150 at the machine: the ₩1,650 fare plus a ₩500 refundable deposit, returned at a deposit refund machine (보증금 환급기) in the station after your journey. Practical if you only need a few rides.
For most short-term visitors, T-money is the simplest starting point. Pick it up at a convenience store, load ₩20,000 to ₩30,000, and you are ready for the subway, bus, and taxis.
Note: tapping a foreign card directly at a fare gate is not available. Seoul plans gate-level EMV payment for 2027 (source: news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/515573).
Registered foreign residents: add K-Pass once you have your ARC
If you have an Alien Registration Card, you can do everything above and also enroll in K-Pass.
The practical approach for new residents: get T-money on day one and use it immediately. Once your ARC arrives, confirm your area of residence participates in K-Pass at korea-pass.kr and you are taking transit at least 15 times a month. Apply for a dedicated K-Pass card (모두의카드) from a participating card company, then register it at korea-pass.kr. The refund arrives the following month.
K-Pass: the refund program, not a card brand
K-Pass launched in May 2024 as a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport program. In 2026, the program was restructured under the name 모두의카드, though the K-Pass website (korea-pass.kr) and app name remain in use. The refund rates below are from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's current 모두의카드 programme page and its policy briefings on korea.kr (newsId 148928697 for the 2024 launch rates; newsId 148957071 for the 2026 update adding the 65-and-over category):
| Rider category | Refund rate | Minimum rides per month |
|---|---|---|
| General adult (age 35 and over) | 20% | 15 |
| Youth (ages 19 to 34) | 30% | 15 |
| Families with 2 children | 30% | 15 |
| Adults 65 and over | 30% | 15 |
| Families with 3 or more children | 50% | 15 |
| Low-income (basic livelihood and near-poor recipients) | 53.3% | 15 |
The 65-and-over rate was raised from 20% to 30% in 2026. There is no monthly cap on rides refunded. Verify current rates at korea.kr before registering.
K-Pass also pays out through a second mode, a monthly spending threshold: once your transit spending in a calendar month passes the threshold for your category and region, everything above it is refunded in full, with no cap. The program picks whichever mode (percentage or threshold) pays more, automatically. Capital-region thresholds, standard and plus tier, from the Ministry's current 모두의카드 programme page:
| Rider category | Standard tier | Plus tier (adds wide-area buses and GTX) | Halved rate, Apr-Sep 2026 (standard / plus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General adult (age 35 and over) | ₩62,000 | ₩100,000 | ₩30,000 / ₩50,000 |
| Youth (19-34), families with 2 children, or adults 65 and over | ₩55,000 | ₩90,000 | ₩25,000 / ₩45,000 |
| Families with 3 or more children, or low-income recipients | ₩45,000 | ₩80,000 | ₩22,000 / ₩40,000 |
Thresholds outside the capital region are lower; check korea.kr or the K-Pass site for your area.
To join, apply for a dedicated K-Pass card (모두의카드) from a participating card company. Once you have it, register it on the K-Pass website (korea-pass.kr) or app.
Foreign residents and K-Pass eligibility:
Foreign residents holding an Alien Registration Card can join K-Pass. The Ministry's policy briefing states: "외국인 등록증을 발급받은 외국인의 경우도 K-패스 회원가입이 가능하다" (foreign nationals issued an Alien Registration Card may also join K-Pass). Registration also requires resident registration (주민등록) in a participating local government at the time of signup. Confirm your area qualifies at korea-pass.kr before registering. Short-term visitors on a tourist stay or visa-waiver entry cannot register.
To register: first apply for a dedicated K-Pass card (모두의카드) from a participating card company. Then visit the K-Pass website (korea-pass.kr) or use the K-Pass app to complete membership registration and register your card. The refund method depends on the card type: a prepaid or check-linked K-Pass card sends the refund to the linked account; a credit K-Pass card deducts the refund from your next monthly statement.
Practical note on the K-Pass registration site: the site (korea-pass.kr) experienced connection issues during the research for this guide. Before registering, confirm the site is accessible and check the current steps on the live page.
Climate Card: what it covers and what it does not
The Climate Card is Seoul City's own product, sold as a period of unlimited travel rather than stored won. It makes financial sense if you ride Seoul's subway and city buses daily throughout the covered network.
30-day pass: end of service
Seoul City is ending the 30-day Climate Card. Key dates (source: news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/public/climatecard-faq/faq-stop):
- Prepaid (cash-loaded) 30-day card: last top-up date August 31, 2026; top-ups stop from September 1, 2026; last usage date September 29, 2026.
- Postpaid 30-day card: last usage date September 30, 2026.
- Full program closure: October 1, 2026.
If you want unlimited monthly transit coverage going forward, K-Pass (모두의카드) is the direct replacement, and Seoul says so: its own end-of-service notice explains the Climate Card is closing because the national program now reflects the same unlimited concept at the same price point. Above a monthly threshold (capital-region standard tier: ₩62,000 for general adults aged 35 and over, ₩55,000 for youth aged 19 to 34, families with 2 children, or adults 65 and over, and ₩45,000 for families with 3 or more children or low-income recipients, each temporarily halved for travel from April through September 2026 to ₩30,000, ₩25,000, and ₩22,000 respectively; capital-region plus tier, which also covers wide-area buses and GTX, is ₩100,000, ₩90,000, and ₩80,000 for the same three groups respectively, halved to ₩50,000, ₩45,000, and ₩40,000 over the same period) everything you spend is refunded in full. Registration needs an Alien Registration Card.
Short-term passes
From news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/510651:
- 1-day: ₩5,000
- 7-day: ₩20,000
- 2, 3, and 5-day options are also available
As of March 17, 2026, short-term passes can be purchased with a foreign Visa or Mastercard at 440 new ticket machines across 273 stations on Lines 1 to 8.
What the Climate Card does NOT cover
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government, news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/510651.
- Shinbundang Line (신분당선)
- GTX (수도권 광역급행철도, the express regional rail network)
- Subway lines outside the covered Seoul and Gyeonggi-province sections
- Intercity buses and airport buses
- Buses licensed to other regions
If your regular commute uses any of those routes, the Climate Card may not cover enough of your travel to justify the upfront cost. K-Pass (for residents with an ARC) refunds based on total monthly spending, which makes it more useful for commuters with routes outside the core covered network.
Refund on a Climate Card for foreigners without a Korean bank account
Seoul City's transit portal (news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/510651) notes: foreigners without a Korean bank account should visit T-money's headquarters in person for a cash refund of their Climate Card balance. Confirm the address and process on T-money's website before travelling there.
Fares and the transfer discount
Base fares
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government, "서울시 대중교통요금 현황" (current transit fares), news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/345. Verify before travel.
| Transit type | Card fare | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Subway (base zone, first 10km) | ₩1,550 | June 28, 2025 |
| City bus, standard adult | ₩1,500 | August 12, 2023 |
| City bus, youth | ₩900 | August 12, 2023 |
| City bus, children | ₩550 | August 12, 2023 |
The bus base fare has not changed since August 2023. Recheck the Seoul transit portal before your first long commute.
Cash vs. card: single-trip tickets purchased at subway machines cost ₩1,650, compared to the ₩1,550 card fare. A single-use ticket also requires a ₩500 refundable deposit at the machine, so you insert ₩2,150 total. The deposit is returned at a deposit refund machine (보증금 환급기) in the station after your journey. Any transit card gets the lower card rate with no deposit.
Distance surcharge: beyond the first 10km, ₩100 is added per additional 5km (up to 50km total). Beyond 50km, ₩100 per additional 8km. Source: news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/345.
The free transfer window
Seoul and Gyeonggi operate an integrated transfer discount system (통합환승할인제도). Switching between subway and bus, or between bus lines, within the window counts as one continuous journey, not multiple separate fares.
The rules, from news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/transfer_discount:
- Time window: 30 minutes from when you tag out. Extended to 60 minutes between 9pm and 7am.
- Maximum chain: up to four transfers (five total rides) count as one fare.
- Tag-out requirement: you must tap your card at the exit reader of each vehicle. If you do not tag out, the system cannot start your transfer window. Your next ride costs a full base fare.
- Same-route and same-vehicle transfers: no discount applies.
The tag-out step is where most people lose the transfer discount. Make it automatic: tap in and tap out every time, even when the bus stop feels informal.
Where to buy and how to top up without a Korean bank card
Buying T-money or Cashbee
T-money and Cashbee cards are sold over the counter at convenience stores near subway stations across Korea. Pay cash at the register. No bank account is needed.
Topping up
- Convenience store: hand the cashier cash and tap the card on the reader.
- Seoul Metro station ticket machine: most accept cash. Some newer machines accept cards; confirm at the screen.
Buying a Climate Card short-term pass or single-use tickets with a foreign card
At the 440 new ticket machines on Lines 1 to 8 at 273 stations. Look for the "기후동행카드" label on the machine. Foreign Visa and Mastercard accepted; an average service fee of about 3.7% applies. Single-use tickets are also purchasable with a foreign card at these machines.
Mobile T-money: Android and iPhone
Android
On Android, you download the Mobile T-money app (모바일티머니), or Samsung Wallet, and register an account; Seoul documents this as the way to issue and top up a mobile Climate Card. For the mobile Climate Card, Seoul documents that it works only on Android phones running OS 12 or later, and only on devices that have transit-card functionality built in; some overseas-market and older phones are not supported. Check T-money's official site (t-money.co.kr) for current device support before relying on your phone for transit payment.
iPhone
On iPhone, check t-money.co.kr for whether transit payment through Apple Pay, sometimes marketed as T-money Apple Pay (티머니 애플페이), is available to you, which top-up methods work, and whether a non-Korean card can be used, before relying on your phone for transit payment. Carry a plastic card until you have confirmed it works on your own phone.
Getting your T-money balance back when you leave Korea
T-money holds a prepaid cash balance. The refund process and any applicable fees are managed by T-money directly. Check the current procedures at T-money's official website (t-money.co.kr) before making any plans around a refund.
Spending the balance down in your last few days in Korea is often simpler than seeking a refund.
Frequently asked questions
Which transit card can a short-term visitor use without a Korean bank account?
Three options require no Korean bank account. First, T-money (티머니) or Cashbee (캐시비) from a convenience store near any subway station, purchased with cash. Second, a short-term Climate Card pass (1 to 7 days) purchased with a foreign Visa or Mastercard at one of 440 ticket machines across 273 stations on Lines 1 to 8 (since March 17, 2026). Third, single-use tickets purchased with a foreign card at those same machines. Tapping a foreign card directly at a fare gate is not currently available. K-Pass requires an Alien Registration Card and is not available to short-term visitors.
Is K-Pass a card you can buy at a convenience store?
No. K-Pass is a government refund program, restructured in 2026 under the name 모두의카드. To join, you apply for a dedicated K-Pass card from a participating card company, not your existing convenience-store transit card. Register the dedicated card on the K-Pass site or app, meet the monthly minimum of 15 rides, and K-Pass refunds a percentage of your fares. Registration also requires an Alien Registration Card and resident registration in a participating local government.
What does the Climate Card cover, and what does it not cover?
The Climate Card covers Seoul subway and some Gyeonggi-province subway sections, Seoul-licensed city and village buses, and optionally the Ttareungyi bike-share and Han River ferry. It does not cover the Shinbundang Line, GTX, intercity buses, or airport buses. If your regular routes fall outside this area, the Climate Card may not pay off.
Is the 30-day Climate Card still available?
No. Seoul City is ending the 30-day Climate Card: the last day to top up a prepaid card is August 31, 2026 (top-ups stop from September 1), the last prepaid usage date is September 29, 2026, and the program closes October 1, 2026. The short-term 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7-day passes continue and are purchasable with a foreign Visa or Mastercard at ticket machines on Seoul subway Lines 1 to 8.
How do I top up a T-money card without a Korean bank card?
At a convenience store near any subway station with cash. Tell the cashier the amount and tap the card on the reader. Station ticket machines also accept cash. No bank account needed.
How do I get my T-money balance back when I leave Korea?
The refund process and any applicable fees are managed by T-money directly. Check the current procedures at T-money's official website (t-money.co.kr). Spending the balance down before you leave is often simpler than seeking a refund.
Does T-money work on an iPhone?
On iPhone, check t-money.co.kr for whether transit payment through Apple Pay, sometimes marketed as T-money Apple Pay (티머니 애플페이), is available to you, which top-up methods work, and whether a non-Korean card can be used, before relying on your phone for transit payment. Carry a plastic card until you have confirmed it works on your own phone.
What are the current base fares?
Seoul subway base fare is ₩1,550 per base zone, effective June 28, 2025. City bus base fare is ₩1,500, effective August 12, 2023. A single-use subway ticket costs ₩1,650 at the machine plus a ₩500 refundable deposit, reclaimed at a deposit refund machine (보증금 환급기) after your trip; any transit card pays the lower ₩1,550 rate with no deposit. Both base fares are set by Seoul City; verify at news.seoul.go.kr/traffic/archives/345 before travel.
How does the free transfer window work?
Tag out when you exit. Tag in on the next vehicle within 30 minutes and the ride continues as one fare chain, not a new fare. Between 9pm and 7am, the window extends to 60 minutes. Up to four transfers count in one chain. Skip the tag-out and the window closes; your next ride starts at a full base fare.
When should a foreign resident add K-Pass?
Once you have your Alien Registration Card, confirm your area of residence participates in K-Pass at korea-pass.kr and you use transit at least 15 times a month. Apply for a dedicated K-Pass card (모두의카드) from a participating card company and register it on the K-Pass site or app. The program refunds by whichever of two modes pays more, chosen automatically: a percentage of spending (20% for general adults aged 35 and over, 30% for youth aged 19 to 34, 30% for families with 2 children, 30% for adults 65 and over, 50% for families with 3 or more children, 53.3% for low-income recipients), or a monthly threshold above which everything is refunded in full (capital-region standard tier: ₩62,000 for general adults aged 35 and over, ₩55,000 for youth aged 19 to 34, families with 2 children, or adults 65 and over, and ₩45,000 for families with 3 or more children or low-income recipients, each temporarily halved for travel from April through September 2026 to ₩30,000, ₩25,000, and ₩22,000 respectively; capital-region plus tier, which also covers wide-area buses and GTX, is ₩100,000, ₩90,000, and ₩80,000 for the same three groups respectively, halved to ₩50,000, ₩45,000, and ₩40,000 over the same period). There is no monthly cap on rides refunded. Verify current rates at korea.kr before registering.
Getting your transit card sorted in the first day or two in Korea removes one source of friction from everything else. T-money gets you moving from the airport. K-Pass, if you qualify, turns a monthly transit bill into a bill minus a refund.
For arrival steps including getting your ARC (which unlocks K-Pass), see the ARC registration guide. For the broader checklist of what to do in your first weeks, see the moving to Korea checklist. Transit is a significant part of the monthly budget in Korea; the cost of living guide breaks down what to expect. For using transit to reach destinations outside Seoul, see the day trips from Seoul guide.