Seoul Subway Pass for Tourists: Price & Which Card to Buy
Seoul does not offer a multi-day unlimited subway pass for tourists. Instead, you buy a rechargeable transport card, load it with cash, and pay per ride. The base subway fare is 1,550 KRW with a transport card for the first 10 km, rising slightly for longer trips. A standard T-money card (티머니) costs 2,500-4,000 KRW to purchase, and you can reload it at any convenience store or station machine. After reading this guide, you will know which card to buy, where to get it, how much to load, and whether a day pass or single-journey ticket makes sense for your itinerary.
- Base subway fare
- 1,550 KRW with a transport card; 1,650 KRW for single-journey tickets (first 10 km)
- T-money card price
- 2,500-4,000 KRW for standard cards; 4,000-5,000 KRW for character designs (card price non-refundable, balance is)
- Multi-day tourist pass
- No longer sold; rechargeable card and pay-per-ride is the standard method for all travellers
- Where to buy
- Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven), subway vending machines, and Incheon Airport arrivals hall
- Refund policy
- Unused card balance can be refunded at convenience stores; the card itself is not refundable once purchased
- Works on
- All Seoul subway lines, buses, many intercity buses, and select taxis that accept card payment
- Why Seoul has no unlimited tourist subway pass
- What a T-money card costs and where to buy one
- How much money to load on your card
- Single-journey tickets and when they make sense
- Using your T-money card on buses and for transfers
- Getting a refund when you leave Korea
- Alternative cards and mobile wallet options
- Comparison of Seoul subway payment methods for tourists
- Practical tips
- Frequently asked questions
Why Seoul has no unlimited tourist subway pass
Seoul discontinued its multi-day unlimited transit passes several years ago. The city found that very few travellers made enough trips per day to justify an unlimited product, and the rechargeable card system is already simple and affordable. A single ride within central Seoul costs 1,550 KRW with a transport card, which is approximately 1.10 USD at the August 2026 exchange rate of around 1,410 KRW per dollar. Even if you take six subway trips in a day, you spend only about 9,300 KRW, or roughly 6.60 USD. An unlimited pass would need to be priced low enough to compete with that, which is not economically viable for the operator. The result is that every visitor, whether staying three days or three weeks, uses the same rechargeable card system that Seoul residents use. This is good news: the cards are easy to buy, easy to reload, and accepted on subway, city buses, and many intercity routes. There is no need to calculate break-even points or worry about activating a pass on the wrong day. You load money, you tap in and out, and the correct fare is deducted automatically. Distance surcharges apply beyond 10 km, but the system handles the math. If you transfer between subway and bus within 30 minutes, you often pay a reduced combined fare rather than two separate fares, which keeps costs low even for complex routes across the city.
What a T-money card costs and where to buy one
A standard T-money card costs roughly 2,500-4,000 KRW to purchase, depending on the retailer and design. Character or designer editions featuring K-pop groups, cartoon characters, or special artwork cost about 4,000-5,000 KRW. The card price is a one-time fee and is not refundable, but any balance you load onto the card can be refunded later at convenience stores if you have less than 20,000 KRW remaining. You can buy T-money cards at any convenience store branded CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, or Emart24. Simply ask the cashier for a T-money card, choose a design if several are available, and pay. The card comes with zero balance, so you will need to load money immediately. Subway station vending machines also sell cards and accept cash and credit cards, though the interface is sometimes Korean-only; look for the English language button at the top of the screen. At Incheon International Airport, T-money cards are sold at convenience stores in the arrivals hall on both terminals, and at dedicated transport-card kiosks near the airport railroad ticket counters. If you arrive late at night, the convenience stores remain open 24 hours. An alternative is the Cashbee card, which works identically to T-money and is accepted on all the same transport. The two brands are interoperable within Seoul and most of South Korea, so choose whichever is available. Some travellers prefer T-money because it is slightly more common and easier to reload in rural areas, but for a Seoul-only trip the difference is negligible.
How much money to load on your card
Load 10,000-20,000 KRW when you first buy the card, which covers roughly six to twelve subway trips depending on distance. You can reload at any convenience store or subway station machine whenever the balance runs low. At a convenience store, hand the card to the cashier, say how much you want to add, and pay in cash or by credit card. The cashier taps the card on the register, loads the amount, and hands it back. The whole interaction takes about ten seconds and requires no Korean. At subway vending machines, insert the card into the reload slot, select the amount using the on-screen buttons, insert cash or a card, and the machine returns your T-money card with the new balance. Machines accept 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 KRW notes, and some accept credit cards. If you are staying in Seoul for three or four days and plan to use the subway four to six times per day, budget about 30,000-50,000 KRW in total transport spend. Load incrementally rather than putting 50,000 KRW on the card at once, because while you can get a refund of the balance, the refund process requires visiting a convenience store, showing your passport, and filling out a form. Small balances under 20,000 KRW are refunded instantly; higher amounts may require a bank transfer or additional paperwork depending on the store policy. If you have 3,000 KRW or less left on the card at the end of your trip, many travellers simply keep the card as a souvenir or give it to another visitor, since the refund effort is not worth the amount.
Single-journey tickets and when they make sense
Every subway station has vending machines that sell single-journey tickets (일회용 교통카드). These are plastic token-like cards that you tap at the gate to enter, then insert into a return slot at your destination station to exit. The base fare for a single-journey ticket is 1,650 KRW for the first 10 km, which is 100 KRW more than the fare with a rechargeable T-money card. The ticket includes a 500 KRW deposit, which you get back by inserting the card into the deposit-refund machine located next to the gates after you exit. If you skip the refund step, you lose the 500 KRW. Single-journey tickets make sense only if you are taking one or two subway rides during your entire stay in Korea and do not want to buy a T-money card. For example, if you land at Incheon, take the airport railroad to Seoul Station, stay in one neighbourhood, and leave Korea from Gimpo Airport by taxi, you might use the subway only once or twice. In that case, a single-journey ticket saves you the 2,500-4,000 KRW card purchase price. However, if you plan any combination of subway and bus, or more than two subway trips, the rechargeable card is simpler and cheaper. Single-journey tickets do not work on buses and do not benefit from transfer discounts. The vending machines for single-journey tickets have an English interface: select your destination station on the map, insert cash, and the machine prints your ticket. Keep the ticket until you complete the refund process at your destination, or you will forfeit the deposit.
Using your T-money card on buses and for transfers
T-money cards work on all Seoul city buses, which use the same fare structure as the subway: 1,550 KRW base fare with a transport card. Tap your card on the reader when you board at the front door, and tap again when you exit at the rear door. The exit tap is essential; without it, the system assumes you rode to the last stop and may charge a higher fare next time. If you transfer from subway to bus, or bus to subway, within 30 minutes, the system treats it as a single journey and applies only one base fare plus any distance surcharge for the combined trip, rather than charging two separate fares. This transfer discount works for up to five transfers within a two-hour window, though in practice most tourists transfer only once or twice. The same card works on intercity buses departing from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (고속버스터미널) and Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울터미널), though you can also buy intercity tickets with cash or credit card at the terminal ticket counters. Some taxis, particularly newer models and those at hotels and airports, accept T-money for payment. When you get in, check for a card reader mounted near the meter. At the end of the ride, tell the driver you will pay by card, and tap your T-money card on the reader. Not all taxis accept card payment, and older drivers may prefer cash, so always carry enough cash for a taxi fare as a backup. T-money does not work on the airport railroad (AREX) or intercity trains such as KTX and SRT; those require separate tickets purchased at the station or online.
Getting a refund when you leave Korea
If you have unused balance on your T-money card and want a refund, go to any convenience store that sells T-money, show the card and your passport, and ask for a refund. The cashier will check the balance, deduct a small handling fee (usually 500 KRW) if applicable, and give you the remaining cash. Some stores refund without a fee if the balance is under 20,000 KRW. If your balance is over 20,000 KRW, the refund process can be more complex, and some convenience stores may direct you to a subway customer service centre or a dedicated T-money service desk. These desks are located at major subway stations such as Seoul Station (서울역), Gangnam Station (강남역), and Hongik University Station (홍대입구역), usually near the station master office. The staff speak basic English and can process refunds on the spot for balances up to about 50,000 KRW. For higher amounts, they may require a bank account or take your address and mail a check, which is impractical for foreign tourists. To avoid this complication, do not load more than 30,000 KRW at any one time. The T-money card itself is not refundable. Some travellers keep the card for a future trip; the balance does not expire, and the card remains valid for years. If you do not plan to return, use up most of the balance on your last day by taking the subway to the airport or buying snacks at a convenience store, then either discard the card or refund a small remaining balance of a few thousand won.
Alternative cards and mobile wallet options
South Korea also supports mobile T-money via smartphone NFC, but setup requires a Korean-issued credit card or a Korean mobile carrier account, which most short-term tourists do not have. Foreign-issued Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay do not work on Seoul subway gates as of 2026, because the transit system requires a Korea-specific transportation applet that is not available on foreign wallet accounts. Some travel blogs claim that tourists can use international contactless credit cards directly on subway gates, but this is incorrect; only physical T-money or Cashbee cards, or Korean mobile wallets, are accepted. If you have a long-term visa and a Korean bank account, you can link T-money to your Korean debit card or add a T-money function to your phone using apps such as T-money Pay or Cashbee, but for a tourist visit of a few weeks or less, a plastic card is the simplest and most reliable option. Another option is a Korea Tour Card, which is marketed specifically to tourists and sold at the airport and some hotels. It functions identically to a standard T-money card, and sometimes comes in a package with a small amount of preloaded balance or discount vouchers for tourist sites. The card itself costs around 4,000-5,000 KRW, similar to a character-edition T-money card. There is no functional difference; it is purely a branding and packaging choice. If the Korea Tour Card is sold out or unavailable, any standard T-money or Cashbee card does the same job.
Comparison of Seoul subway payment methods for tourists
| Method | Upfront cost | Per-ride fare (base) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-money card | 2,500-4,000 KRW (card) + balance | 1,550 KRW | Any trip longer than 2 days, or multiple rides per day |
| Cashbee card | 2,500-4,000 KRW (card) + balance | 1,550 KRW | Same as T-money; choose whichever is in stock |
| Single-journey ticket | 1,650 KRW + 500 KRW deposit (refundable) | 1,650 KRW | One or two rides total; no bus or transfer use |
| Korea Tour Card | ~4,000-5,000 KRW (card) + balance | 1,550 KRW | Souvenir design preference; no functional difference |
| Mobile T-money (Korean wallet) | No card cost; balance only | 1,550 KRW | Long-term residents with Korean bank account; not practical for tourists |
Practical tips
Frequently asked questions
Before you go
Seoul's subway payment system is straightforward once you understand that there is no tourist pass: you buy a rechargeable card, load money, and tap in and out. A T-money card costs 2,500-4,000 KRW plus the balance you choose to load, and the base subway fare is 1,550 KRW per trip. For any visit longer than a day or two, the rechargeable card is cheaper and more convenient than single-journey tickets, and it works on buses and some taxis as well. Buy the card at a convenience store or subway station, load 10,000-20,000 KRW to start, and reload whenever the balance runs low. At the end of your trip, refund any remaining balance at a convenience store or simply keep the card for next time.
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