Korea App Desk › T-money & Climate Card
Subway & bus
T-money and the Climate Card for visitors
You need one card to tap in on subways and buses. The two choices for a visitor are a T-money card (pay per ride, top up with cash) or a Climate Card short-term pass (unlimited rides in Seoul for 1–7 days). Neither needs an account or a Korean number.
At a glance — checked Oct 20, 2026
| App | Sign up / use without a Korean number | Pay with a foreign card | English in the app |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-money & Climate CardT-money, Climate Card | YesPhysical cards need no account | PartlyNew subway machines take foreign cards for Climate Card; T-money top-up mostly cash | YesTicket machines in English, Chinese, Japanese |
YesPartlyNoNot confirmed"Not confirmed" = we couldn't find it in an official help page or notice yet.
T-money cards for visitors
- The Korea Tour Card has been discontinued and is no longer sold.Source: T-money — for foreign travelers · checked Oct 20, 2026
- TMONEY TRAVEL CARD: 4,000 won, at convenience stores and Incheon Airport bus ticket offices. TMONEY TRAVEL CARD +: 6,000 won at convenience stores, with WOWPASS payment built in.Source: T-money — for foreign travelers · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Top up at convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24) or subway station machines. Some machines take cash only, so keep a little cash.Source: T-money official blog — transit card guide (Aug 2026, updated Sep 14) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhere you can top up a regular T-money balance with a foreign card: not confirmed in an official notice.Closest source: Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean) — foreign cards at subway ticket machines · checked Oct 20, 2026
- T-money in Apple Wallet can only be topped up with a South Korea-issued card.Source: Apple Support — T-money in Apple Wallet · checked Oct 20, 2026
- The mobiletmoney iPhone app (version 2.4.7, Sep 1) says it is "now available for international users"; it lists Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay and JCB for Apple Pay top-up, but not Visa. We haven't tested it.Source: App Store — mobiletmoney (T-money) listing · checked Oct 20, 2026
Climate Card short-term passes
Help in English, Chinese or Japanese: call 120 (Dasan Call Center) and press 9.
- Prices: 1 day 5,000 won · 2 days 8,000 · 3 days 10,000 · 5 days 15,000 · 7 days 20,000. The physical card costs 3,000 won extra.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card (English) · T-money — Climate Card guide for foreigners · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Tourists can buy it. It's sold at ticket machines and customer service centers on lines 1–8, convenience stores near stations, and tourist information centers in Myeong-dong and at Seoul Tourism Plaza — not at the airport.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card (English) · T-money — Climate Card guide for foreigners · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Since Mar 17, 2026, new ticket machines at 273 stations on lines 1–8 accept foreign cards for buying the card and topping up short-term passes, with an average 3.7% fee.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean) — foreign cards at subway ticket machines · checked Oct 20, 2026
- The mobile Climate Card works on Android 12 or later only. On iPhone you need the physical card.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card (English) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- It covers Seoul subway and Seoul-licensed buses. Not covered: Shinbundang Line, routes outside Seoul, intercity and airport buses. Short-term passes don't include Ttareungyi bikes or the Hangang Bus.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card (English) · Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean) — Climate Card coverage · checked Oct 20, 2026
- On AREX, the Gimpo Airport–Seoul Station section is included, but at Incheon Airport stations you can only get off, not board. Buy something else for your first ride from Incheon.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean) — Climate Card coverage · Seoul Media Hub (Korean), Aug 12, 2026 — Climate Card changes from September · checked Oct 20, 2026
- The 30-day Climate Card could only be topped up until Aug 31, 2026. The new Climate Pass from September is for Seoul residents; short-term passes are still sold.Source: Seoul Media Hub (Korean), Aug 12, 2026 — Climate Card changes from September · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Refunds without a Korean bank account: visit the T-Town customer center (110 Huam-ro, Jung-gu) within the pass period, possibly with your passport. Only the last short-term pass topped up with cash or a foreign card is refunded in cash, minus 500 won; the card itself isn't refunded.Source: T-money — Climate Card guide for foreigners · checked Oct 20, 2026
K-Pass is for residents
- K-Pass (the national transit refund card) is for Korean nationals and foreigners with an Alien Registration Card; sign-up checks a registration number and address, so short-term visitors can't use it.Source: K-Pass — official introduction (Korean) · Korea.kr (Korean government), Apr 30, 2024 — K-Pass eligibility · checked Oct 20, 2026
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Related
- Airport to cityYour first ride from Incheon: AREX Express fares and where to buy, why the Climate Card can't board at the airport, and how airport limousine buses take payment — from AREX and Korea Tourism Organization pages.
- Foreign cardsFew Korean online shops accept foreign cards. Where foreign cards are confirmed to work — subway ticket machines, KORAIL, SRT, Baemin — and what to use where they don't.
- KTX & SRTKTX and SRT booking moved to KORAIL+ and korail.com in 2026. How visitors book without a Korean ID, pay with a foreign card, and what KORAIL PASS costs — from KORAIL and SR's own pages.