💡 Practical Travel Tips
[South Korea] Which Transit Card to Get in Korea: T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS, and How Visitors Buy and Top Up (Convenience Store Top-Ups Are Cash Only)
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🔍 Key Checkpoints
💡 Actionable Tips
- T-money: buy it at GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, MINISTOP, Emart24 and other convenience stores. Top up with KRW cash in 1,000 KRW units (1,000–90,000 KRW); the maximum balance is 500,000 KRW. Subway machines also top up.
- Transfer discount: switch between subway and bus within 30 minutes (1 hour from 9 pm to 7 am), up to four times a day. Balance refunds cost a 500 KRW fee.
- Climate Card short-term pass: 1 day 5,000 KRW, 2 days 8,000, 3 days 10,000, 5 days 15,000, 7 days 20,000; the physical card is 3,000 KRW extra. The pass starts on the day you load it and cannot be preloaded.
- Climate Card coverage since October 1, 2026: Seoul subway plus Seoul-licensed city and village buses. Not valid on the Shinbundang Line, GTX, subways outside Seoul, airport buses or intercity buses. At the airport stations you can only exit.
- For international visitors: since March 17, 2026, the new ticket machines at Line 1–8 stations accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for buying and loading the Climate Card, with an average 3.7% fee. The mobile Climate Card is Android only, so iPhone users need the physical card.
- For international visitors: WOWPASS needs your passport. Load it with cash in 16 currencies at a kiosk or with an international card in the app; leftover balance can be withdrawn as KRW at a kiosk. Without a Korean bank account, Climate Card refunds require a visit to Tmoney headquarters.
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Notice for International Travelers (Beta Translation)
This guide is localized for global visitors. While we strive to curate verified local spots and authentic insights, please note that minor translation quirks may occur. Please verify transit schedules and operating hours locally.
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English Quick Guide & Highlights
[Korea] Which Transit Card to Get in Korea: T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS, and How Visitors Buy and Top Up (Convenience Store Top-Ups Are Cash Only)
, South Korea · Travel Tips
Editor’s Verdict
“Riding a lot in Seoul? Get a Climate Card short-term pass (from 5,000 KRW a day). Traveling nationwide or taking taxis? Use T-money, topped up with KRW cash. Want one card for exchange and payments? WOWPASS.”
🍽️ Key Takeaways & Points
T-money (nationwide, cash top-up at convenience stores), Climate Card short-term pass (unlimited Seoul subway and Seoul buses), WOWPASS (foreigners only, passport required)
✨ Vibe & Space Atmosphere
One transit card covers subways and buses with transfer discounts. The catch is where to buy it and how to top it up. Facts below come from Tmoney, Seoul City, the Korea Tourism Organization and WOWPASS official pages, checked on October 22, 2026.
💡 Essential Notes for International Travelers
- T-money: buy it at GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, MINISTOP, Emart24 and other convenience stores. Top up with KRW cash in 1,000 KRW units (1,000–90,000 KRW); the maximum balance is 500,000 KRW. Subway machines also top up.
- Transfer discount: switch between subway and bus within 30 minutes (1 hour from 9 pm to 7 am), up to four times a day. Balance refunds cost a 500 KRW fee.
- Climate Card short-term pass: 1 day 5,000 KRW, 2 days 8,000, 3 days 10,000, 5 days 15,000, 7 days 20,000; the physical card is 3,000 KRW extra. The pass starts on the day you load it and cannot be preloaded.
- Climate Card coverage since October 1, 2026: Seoul subway plus Seoul-licensed city and village buses. Not valid on the Shinbundang Line, GTX, subways outside Seoul, airport buses or intercity buses. At the airport stations you can only exit.
- For international visitors: since March 17, 2026, the new ticket machines at Line 1–8 stations accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for buying and loading the Climate Card, with an average 3.7% fee. The mobile Climate Card is Android only, so iPhone users need the physical card.
- For international visitors: WOWPASS needs your passport. Load it with cash in 16 currencies at a kiosk or with an international card in the app; leftover balance can be withdrawn as KRW at a kiosk. Without a Korean bank account, Climate Card refunds require a visit to Tmoney headquarters.
- Payment & Cards: Major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB) are widely supported.
📖 Strategy Overview & Practical Guide
Korea has three practical transit cards for travelers. T-money works nationwide and is sold and topped up at convenience stores with KRW cash (1,000–90,000 KRW per top-up). The Climate Card short-term pass gives unlimited rides on the Seoul subway and Seoul buses for 1 to 7 days (5,000 to 20,000 KRW plus a 3,000 KRW card); it starts on the day you load it and, since October 1, 2026, covers Seoul only. Since March 2026 foreign cards can buy and load it at new Line 1–8 machines with an average 3.7% fee. WOWPASS is a foreigners-only card requiring a passport, loadable with foreign cash at kiosks or international cards in the app.
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