Every foreigner settling in Korea needs to figure out public transit fast. Korea’s public transportation is excellent — punctual, cheap, and extensive — but the payment system has its own logic. This guide is written specifically for foreign residents (not tourists): which card saves you the most money if you’re commuting daily, what’s changed in 2026, and how to charge your card without a Korean bank account.
⚡ Quick answer — which card to get
Just arrived, no Korean bank account yet: Buy a T-money card at the airport convenience store with cash (KRW 3,000–4,000). Charge it with cash at any convenience store.
Settled, commuting daily in Seoul: Get the 기후동행카드 (Climate Card) — KRW 65,000/month for unlimited Seoul bus + subway. Breaks even at ~42 rides/month.
Frequent transit user across multiple cities: Get K-Pass — government rebate card giving 20–53% back on transit fares.
No Korean bank account, want to charge with foreign card: WOWPASS works.
The Cards at a Glance
T-money (티머니)
Most universal
- Works: subway, bus, taxi, convenience stores, some shops
- Cost: KRW 3,000–4,000 (card fee, non-refundable)
- Charge: cash at convenience stores or subway kiosks
- 2026 new: iPhone Apple Wallet support for foreigners
- 2026 new: Foreign card accepted at new station kiosks
- Transfer discount: applies automatically
- Refund: remaining balance minus KRW 500 fee
✅ Best for: everyone. The baseline card.
기후동행카드 (Climate Card)
Seoul unlimited monthly pass
- KRW 65,000/month — unlimited Seoul bus + subway
- KRW 62,000/month — subway only
- KRW 70,000/month — includes Gimpo Gold Line
- Buy and charge via 티머니GO app or subway station
- Works in Seoul only — not Gyeonggi or Incheon routes
- No per-ride charge once activated
✅ Best for: daily Seoul commuters (42+ rides/month = cheaper)
K-Pass (케이패스)
Government rebate card
- Rebate: 20% (general) / 30% (youth, under 34) / 53% (low-income)
- Applies from your 15th ride onwards each month
- Works nationwide — Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, all cities
- Requires Korean bank account + registration
- Rebate credited monthly to your account
- Replaces the old Alipay and Gyeonggi-do cards
✅ Best for: heavy transit users across cities
Cashbee (캐시비)
Lotte alternative
- Same transit coverage as T-money (interchangeable)
- Bonus: usable at Lotte Mart, Lotte Cinema, Lotte shops
- Tap on AND off for buses (same as T-money)
- Available at convenience stores
- Regional strength: some areas outside Seoul have better Cashbee coverage
✅ Best for: regular Lotte shoppers or non-Seoul residents
WOWPASS
Foreign card friendly
- Charge using foreign Visa/Mastercard via the WOWPASS app
- Works like T-money on all transit
- Also works as a debit card at Korean merchants
- No Korean bank account needed
- Exchange rate and fee applies on foreign card charges
- Pick up at airports, GS25 convenience stores
✅ Best for: newly arrived residents without Korean bank account yet
2026 Transit Fares
📋 Source: Seoul Metro, Trazy (April 2026 data)
Per-ride fares with T-money card (transit card rate)
Seoul subway (within Seoul zone)KRW 1,550Increased June 2025
Seoul bus (일반버스 / regular)KRW 1,500
Seoul bus (마을버스 / neighborhood)KRW 1,200
Seoul bus (광역버스 / express)KRW 3,000
Single journey ticket (no card)KRW 1,650 + KRW 500 depositKRW 500 deposit refunded at station exit
Transfer discount (subway → bus or bus → subway)Free within 30 minutesMust tap out on subway — applies automatically
📌 The transfer discount is huge — and automatic
Korea’s transit system applies transfer discounts automatically when you tap your card on both entry AND exit. A subway → bus transfer within 30 minutes costs only the distance difference, not a new full fare. This is why you must always tap out when leaving the subway — without tapping out, the system doesn’t register the transfer and you’ll pay full price again on the next vehicle.
기후동행카드 (Climate Card): Is It Worth It for You?
The 기후동행카드 (Climate Card) is Seoul’s unlimited monthly transit pass. At KRW 65,000/month for unlimited Seoul bus + subway, it’s excellent value for daily commuters — but only if your rides are within Seoul.
Break-even calculation: Climate Card vs T-money
Climate Card monthly costKRW 65,000
Per-ride cost with T-money (subway)KRW 1,550
Break-even point42 rides/month
5-day work week commuter (to/from work): 40 ridesKRW 62,000/month with T-money
Same commuter + any weekend transitClimate Card saves money ✅
| Your situation | Climate Card worth it? |
|---|---|
| Daily Seoul commuter (40+ rides/month) + occasional weekend transit | ✅ Yes — saves KRW 5,000–20,000/month |
| Work from home / hybrid, using transit 20 times a month or less | ❌ No — T-money is cheaper |
| Live in Gyeonggi (Suwon, Incheon, Seongnam etc.) and commute into Seoul | ❌ No — Climate Card only covers Seoul routes. Gyeonggi segments still charged separately. |
| Travel frequently to other cities (Busan, Daejeon) | ❌ No — doesn’t cover intercity routes. Use K-Pass instead. |
How to get the Climate Card
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1
Download 티머니GO app
Available on App Store and Google Play. This is the official app for the Climate Card. You can also buy a physical Climate Card at any subway station customer service center.
-
2
Register and select your card type
Choose between: 버스+지하철 (KRW 65,000), 지하철만 (KRW 62,000), or 김포골드라인 포함 (KRW 70,000). Foreigners with a Korean bank account or ARC can register directly in the app.
-
3
Charge and activate
Pay via Korean bank account linked to the app. The card activates on the date you choose. Note: the monthly pass period is calendar-based (1st to last day of month), not 30 days from purchase. Buy at the start of the month for full value.
K-Pass: The Government Rebate for Frequent Riders
K-Pass is the national government’s transit subsidy program. Unlike the Climate Card (flat fee, Seoul only), K-Pass gives you a percentage rebate on all your transit spending and works nationwide.
| Category | Rebate rate | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| 일반 (General) | 20% rebate | All registered K-Pass users |
| 청년 (Youth) | 30% rebate | Age 19–34 |
| 저소득층 (Low income) | 53% rebate | Basic living support recipients |
💡 K-Pass rebate rules
The rebate applies from your 15th transit ride onwards each month — the first 14 rides are not rebated. Monthly cap: KRW 60,000 rebate maximum. Rebate is credited to your linked bank account at the start of the following month. You need a Korean bank account and ARC to register.
K-Pass example: Youth (30% rebate), 60 rides in a month
60 rides × KRW 1,550KRW 93,000 spent
First 14 rides (no rebate)KRW 21,700
Next 46 rides × KRW 1,550 × 30%KRW 21,390 rebate
Net monthly transit costKRW 71,610 (saved KRW 21,390)
2026 Updates: What Changed for Foreigners
📋 Sources: T-money official announcement March 2026, Seoul Metro, discoverrealkorea.com (April 2026)
| Change | Details | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile T-money for iPhone (foreigners) | From March 18, 2026 — foreign iPhone users can add T-money to Apple Wallet via the Mobile T-money app | No physical card needed for iPhone users — tap your phone at transit gates. Previously only Korean bank-linked cards worked. |
| New kiosks accept foreign cards | New subway station kiosks installed in 2026 accept Visa and Mastercard for T-money purchase and top-up | You can now charge T-money with your foreign credit card at subway stations. Previously cash-only. Note: airport kiosks still limited — use cash at airport. |
| Korea Tour Card discontinued | The old Korea Tour Card (combined transit + tourist discount card for foreigners) is no longer issued | If you had advice to get a Korea Tour Card — ignore it. It’s gone. Standard T-money or the new alternatives are the current options. |
| Subway fare increase | Seoul subway fares increased in June 2025 to KRW 1,550 (from KRW 1,500) | Small increase — factor into your Climate Card vs T-money calculation. |
How to Charge Your Card
| Method | Where | Payment accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience store counter | CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24, Ministop | Cash only at most stores (some accept Korean bank cards) | Hand card + cash to clerk, say “충전해 주세요” (chung-jeon-hae juseyo = please charge this). Fast, available 24/7. |
| Subway station kiosk (new 2026) | Major subway stations | Cash + Visa/Mastercard (new kiosks) | English menu available. Select “T-money 충전” from the main screen. Better for larger top-ups. |
| Subway station customer service | Customer service center in station | Cash | Helpful for questions too. Open during station hours. |
| Mobile T-money app (iPhone) | App (Apple Wallet) | Korean bank card required for top-up | Free for tap-and-ride. Foreign cards not yet supported for charging via app (only foreign Mastercard via Apple Pay for tapping). |
| WOWPASS app | App | Foreign Visa / Mastercard | Charges via foreign card, loads onto WOWPASS which works like T-money on transit. Fee and exchange rate apply. |
📌 How much to keep on your card
Keep KRW 20,000–30,000 loaded if you’re using it daily. Check the remaining balance on any transit gate screen when you tap (it shows after each tap). If you tap with insufficient balance, the gate won’t open. Top up before it hits zero — minimum needed per ride is KRW 1,550 for subway.
Outside Seoul: Does Your Card Work?
| City / Region | T-money | Cashbee | Climate Card | K-Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gyeonggi (Suwon, Incheon, Seongnam) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Seoul routes only | ✅ |
| Busan | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Daejeon / Daegu / Gwangju | ✅ (most routes) | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| KTX / high-speed train | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ — buy separately at Korail |
| Intercity bus (시외버스) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ — buy ticket at terminal or app |
Refunding Your Card Balance
| Card type | How to refund | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| T-money (KRW 20,000 or less remaining) | Any convenience store — just ask for “환불해 주세요” (refund please) | KRW 500 handling fee deducted |
| T-money (over KRW 20,000 remaining) | Subway station customer service center or T-money service center | KRW 500 fee |
| Climate Card (monthly balance) | Unused monthly pass is not refundable once activated. Remaining daily T-money balance on the card is refundable. | — |
| Card itself | The card purchase fee (KRW 3,000–4,000) is non-refundable — the card is yours to keep | Non-refundable |
Which Card Should You Get?
✅ Quick decision guide
- Day 1 in Korea, no Korean bank account: T-money card (cash charge) from airport convenience store — KRW 3,000–4,000. This is all you need to start.
- Daily Seoul commuter (42+ rides/month): Switch to 기후동행카드 via 티머니GO app once you have a Korean bank account. Saves money every month.
- Living outside Seoul or traveling between cities: K-Pass — especially if you’re under 34 (30% rebate).
- No Korean bank account yet, need to charge with foreign card: WOWPASS alongside a basic T-money.
- iPhone user (2026): Set up Mobile T-money in Apple Wallet — most convenient tap-and-go option.
Related: ARC Card Guide: Your First Step in Korea →
Related: How to Work in Korea as a Foreigner: Complete Guide →
Sources: Seoul Metro (fare data, April 2026), T-money official announcement (March 2026 foreign iPhone support), Trazy Korea subway guide (February 2026), discoverrealkorea.com (April 2026), askkoreatravel.com (March 2026). Fares and card policies are subject to change — verify current fares at seoulmetro.co.kr or t-money.co.kr.