Information checked: 29 September 2026
A physical T-money card is a rechargeable stored-value transit card.
Buy the card, load money onto it, then tap the same card when you enter and leave supported public transport.
It is different from a Seoul Climate Card or a single-journey subway ticket.
This guide uses real photos of a Seoul Metro transportation-card vending machine taken on 28 September 2026, so you can recognize the menus before using one yourself.
1. Where can you buy a T-money card?
VISITKOREA lists T-money cards at convenience stores nationwide, including chains such as GS25, CU and 7-ELEVEN, as well as selected visitor and transport locations.
Some Seoul subway stations also have newer vending machines where you can select a transportation card directly.
On the machine photographed for this guide, choose “Purchase transportation card” from the main menu.
The photographed machine displayed a Tmoney Eco-friendly Transit card for ₩4,000.
That price is a real example from this specific machine, not a universal price for every T-money design or sales location.
VISITKOREA gives a general T-money card price range of approximately ₩3,000–₩5,000.
The same machine can display T-money and Climate Card-related products as separate choices.
If you want an ordinary prepaid T-money card, confirm that the option you select actually says Tmoney before paying.
2. Card price and travel balance are separate
Buying the physical card does not mean you already have enough money loaded for travel.
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Card price | The price of the physical card itself |
| T-money balance | The money you load and spend on transport or participating merchants |
Keep this distinction in mind when you see a card price such as ₩4,000 on a vending machine.
3. How to recharge T-money at a subway machine
From the Seoul Metro machine’s main menu, choose “Reloading the transit card.”
The machine then asks you to place the transportation card on the designated card area.
Leave the card in the indicated position until the machine tells you the transaction is finished.
For an ordinary prepaid T-money card, carrying Korean won cash is the safest option for purchase and recharge.
Do not assume that foreign-card acceptance shown for other products on a newer machine also applies to standard T-money top-ups.
4. Do not choose the wrong menu
The same machine handles several different services, so the English menu matters.
If you are only trying to buy or reload T-money, you normally do not need the menus for single-journey tickets, special-status free tickets, or ticket-type changes.
The screen above asks for an ID/Welfare Card, making it easy to recognize that you have entered a different function.
5. Where can you use T-money?
T-money is widely used on public transportation in Korea.
Standard T-money can be used on compatible buses and subways in major regions, and it is also accepted by many compatible taxis and participating merchants.
For a first-time visitor, the most useful use cases are:
- subways;
- city buses;
- compatible taxis;
- participating convenience stores and merchants.
6. How to use T-money on the subway
At the subway gate, place the T-money card on the transportation-card reader.
Use the same card again when leaving the system.
If a gate stays closed, read the screen message and ask station staff rather than repeatedly tapping several different cards.
7. How to use T-money on Seoul buses
Tap the transportation card when boarding and tap again when getting off.
The exit tap is important for transfer handling.
Have the card ready before boarding so you do not need to search through your wallet at the reader.
8. What about refunds and other machine services?
The vending machine photographed for this guide also has a separate “Refund / Ticket type change / Reuse” menu.
Do not assume that every refund option on this machine applies to every T-money balance situation.
T-money refund procedures can vary with the remaining balance and the place where you request the refund.
If your trip is ending, check the current T-money or VISITKOREA refund guidance before choosing a machine menu.
9. T-money vs. Climate Card: the simple difference
A standard T-money card is a rechargeable stored-value card: you load money and fares are deducted as you travel.
A Seoul Climate Card is a separate transit-pass product with its own service area, validity period and charging rules.
The purchase screen in the photo shows them as separate choices, which is exactly how you should think about them.
10. First-time visitor checklist
- Confirm that you are buying Tmoney, not a different transport product.
- Remember that the physical card price and travel balance are separate.
- Keep Korean won cash available for standard T-money purchase or top-up.
- Use Purchase transportation card to buy and Reloading the transit card to add balance.
- Leave the card on the machine’s reader area until the recharge finishes.
- Tap on and off when using buses and the subway.
- Check the current refund rule before trying to cash out a remaining balance.
FAQ
How much does a T-money card cost?
VISITKOREA lists general T-money cards at about ₩3,000–₩5,000.
The Seoul Metro machine photographed on 28 September 2026 displayed a Tmoney Eco-friendly Transit card at ₩4,000.
Can I recharge T-money with a foreign credit card?
Do not rely on it for a standard prepaid T-money card.
Keep Korean won cash available and follow the payment instructions shown on the specific device.
Can I buy T-money at a convenience store?
Yes.
VISITKOREA lists major convenience-store chains such as GS25, CU and 7-ELEVEN among T-money sales locations.
Can I use T-money outside Seoul?
Yes, on compatible transport systems in other regions.
Check the local operator if you are using a special line, airport service or separate pass product.
Is T-money the same as the Climate Card?
No.
T-money is a stored-value card, while the Climate Card is a separate Seoul transit-pass product.
Sources
- Korea Tourism Organization — Transportation Cards
- Korea Tourism Organization — Korea Transportation Guide (2026)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Public Transportation
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — International card payments on new vending machines
- Tmoney — Transit Card Guide for Foreign Travelers
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