Last reviewed: September 14, 2026. This guide follows the current Ministry of Land, K-Pass, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Tmoney notices. Korea changed its resident transit-benefit system during 2026, so older comparisons of Tmoney, K-Pass and the monthly Climate Card may now lead you to the wrong product.
If you have just arrived in Korea, the safest starting point is usually a rechargeable Tmoney card. If you are a registered resident who uses public transportation regularly, check Everyone’s Card (K-Pass). Seoul residents should also check whether the new Climate Companion Pass benefit appears in their K-Pass account. The old 30-day Climate Card is being retired, but the short-term Climate Card remains available for visitors.
- Visitor or newly arrived resident: use Tmoney or a Tmoney Travel Card.
- Visitor making many trips inside Seoul: compare a short-term Climate Card with pay-as-you-go Tmoney.
- Registered foreign resident using transit regularly: register an Everyone’s Card/K-Pass and complete address verification.
- Registered Seoul resident: check your K-Pass account for the Climate Companion Pass enhancement.
- Gyeonggi resident: use the local K-Pass enhancement, The Gyeonggi Pass, rather than the Seoul-only benefit.
Which Korea transportation card should you choose?
| Your situation | Start with | Why | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short visit anywhere in Korea | Tmoney / Tmoney Travel Card | Simple stored value and broad transit use | Card price, loading method and remaining balance |
| Short visit focused on Seoul | Tmoney or short-term Climate Card | Pay per ride versus a time-based Seoul pass | Your actual route and whether every service is inside the pass area |
| Registered resident, fewer than 15 monthly rides | Tmoney | The standard K-Pass monthly threshold may not be met after the first month | Your local program and expected ride count |
| Registered resident, regular nationwide transit | Everyone’s Card/K-Pass | National reimbursement program with local enhancements | Membership, card registration and address verification |
| Seoul resident using K-Pass | Climate Companion Pass benefit | Seoul adds resident-specific benefits to the national system | Whether the Seoul benefit is shown in your registered account |
| Gyeonggi resident | The Gyeonggi Pass | Gyeonggi’s local enhancement applies instead of Seoul’s | Registered address and local eligibility |
A card name does not by itself guarantee a discount. Stored-value cards pay fares directly; K-Pass and local pass programs require membership and eligibility verification.
Tmoney: the practical starting card
Tmoney is a rechargeable stored-value card used for public transportation and participating merchants. It is useful before you have a Korean bank account or resident registration, and it remains a reliable backup even after you join K-Pass.
Physical Tmoney
Buy a card from an authorized seller, add value and tap it when entering and leaving public transportation. The price may vary by card design and seller, so this guide does not assign one universal price.
Tmoney Travel Card
A tourist-focused Tmoney product with published partner benefits. It is different from the discontinued Korea Tour Card.
Current Tmoney tourist products: Tmoney lists the Tmoney Travel Card at KRW 4,000, sold at convenience stores and staffed bus ticket offices at Incheon Airport. Tmoney Travel Card+ is listed at KRW 6,000 and combines transit benefits with WOWPASS payment functions. The former Korea Tour Card is no longer sold.
Seoul also says overseas-issued cards and supported mobile payment services can be used at eligible subway machines for short-term Climate Card passes and single-journey tickets. This does not mean every ordinary Tmoney loading point accepts a foreign card.
iPhone and Apple Watch: Apple Wallet Tmoney officially launched on July 22, 2025. Compatible users can add Tmoney to Apple Wallet and use Express Mode on supported devices. This is ordinary Tmoney functionality; it does not automatically register you for K-Pass or a local reimbursement program.
Android: mobile options depend on the device, operating system, SIM and the card issuer’s app. Do not keep multiple transit-card apps active at the same time because the wrong card may be charged.
Everyone’s Card/K-Pass: the resident benefit system
In 2026, the national K-Pass program was expanded under the name Everyone’s Card (모두의카드). It is not a separate fare gate: you use a participating physical or mobile card, register it with K-Pass and receive the benefit after eligible rides are calculated.
- Who: residents age 19 or older whose registered local government participates. All 229 local governments joined from February 4, 2026.
- Monthly condition: at least 15 eligible rides. The first month is an exception and can receive benefits with fewer than 15 rides.
- No 60-ride ceiling: the current Everyone’s Card guidance does not set a maximum eligible ride count.
- Percentage method: 20% general; 30% youth, two-child parents and seniors; 50% for parents with three or more children; 53.3% for qualifying low-income users.
- Threshold method: spending above the applicable regional threshold is reimbursed under the current rules. The metropolitan-area reference threshold is KRW 62,000.
- Automatic comparison: the system applies whichever is larger—the percentage benefit or the threshold-based benefit.
- Included: local and metropolitan buses, urban and metropolitan rail, Shinbundang Line, GTX and Airport Railroad.
- Normally excluded: separately ticketed intercity/express buses, KTX, SRT and airport buses that do not participate in the integrated transfer system.
Can a foreign resident register?
Yes. Foreign residents of participating local governments can join K-Pass, and membership is required before any reimbursement applies. The current signup flow on the official website starts with identity verification, then moves to card and eligibility checks. If your registered address is not confirmed, follow the instructions shown in your account or contact K-Pass support rather than relying on an older workaround. For the full step-by-step process, see our K-Pass registration guide for foreigners.
Climate Companion Pass: the Seoul enhancement
The new Climate Companion Pass (기후동행패스) is not the old unlimited 30-day Climate Card. It is Seoul’s local enhancement to Everyone’s Card/K-Pass, based on a registered Seoul address.
- The Climate Companion Pass started on September 1, 2026.
- Seoul describes it as a benefit for people age 19 or older whose registered address is in Seoul.
- Seoul extends the local youth category through age 39 and applies the 30% youth rate to that group.
- Existing K-Pass/Everyone’s Card users with an eligible Seoul address receive the local enhancement without changing to another card.
- A prepaid Climate Companion Pass can be purchased with cash or a credit card, but Seoul currently says loading the prepaid card is cash-only.
Foreign-resident caution: K-Pass expressly supports foreigner registration numbers, but Seoul’s public page describes its local enhancement by registered Seoul address. After registering, confirm that the Seoul benefit appears in your K-Pass account. If it does not, contact K-Pass or Seoul 120 rather than assuming eligibility.
What happened to the 30-day Climate Card?
The old 30-day Climate Card is ending. Loading of prepaid 30-day passes ended on August 31, 2026; previously loaded passes can be used through their validity period, with September 29 as the final prepaid-use date. The postpaid discount ends September 30, and the old prepaid/postpaid 30-day program ends October 1.
Short-term Climate Card passes continue for travel within Seoul. A short-term pass is a visitor product and should not be confused with the residence-based Climate Companion Pass.
If an older article tells a long-term Seoul commuter to buy the KRW 62,000 or KRW 65,000 30-day Climate Card, check its publication date. That comparison belongs to the former program and should not drive a new purchase after the transition.
How to buy, register and use your card
- Identify your status. A visitor can start with Tmoney. A resident seeking reimbursement needs a participating card plus K-Pass membership.
- Check your registered address. Local enhancements follow residence, not the city where you happen to take a ride.
- Choose physical or mobile. Confirm device and app compatibility before loading a large balance.
- Complete registration. For K-Pass, verify your identity, register the card and confirm the local government shown in your account. Follow our K-Pass registration guide step by step.
- Tap correctly. Tap when boarding and leaving buses and when entering and exiting rail gates. Correct tagging is necessary for fares, transfers and ride records.
- Review the first statement. Confirm eligible rides and the applied local benefit before assuming that every trip qualifies.
If you are still waiting for your residence card or address record, use ordinary Tmoney first. Once your registration is complete, see the Korea residence card guide, choose a participating K-Pass card and complete the official registration process.
Frequently asked questions
Is K-Pass only for Korean citizens?
No. The official registration process accepts a foreigner registration number and provides a document-upload route when a foreign resident’s address cannot be verified automatically. You still need an eligible participating address and must complete membership registration.
Does K-Pass reimburse only rides after the 15th ride?
No. The current rule uses 15 monthly rides as the eligibility threshold after the first-month exception. It does not mean that the first 14 eligible rides are automatically excluded from the monthly calculation.
Is there still a 60-ride K-Pass limit?
The current Everyone’s Card guidance says there is no maximum eligible ride count. Do not rely on older explanations of the former 60-ride ceiling.
Can I still buy a monthly Climate Card?
The old prepaid 30-day pass can no longer be newly loaded after August 31, 2026, and the former prepaid/postpaid program ends by October 1. Short-term Climate Card passes continue. Seoul residents should examine the new Climate Companion Pass benefit within the Everyone’s Card/K-Pass system.
Can I use Apple Pay for transportation in Korea?
Compatible iPhone and Apple Watch users can add Tmoney to Apple Wallet. This functionality launched officially on July 22, 2025. Adding Tmoney to Wallet is separate from registering for K-Pass.
Will a foreign credit card load every Tmoney card?
No universal rule should be assumed. Seoul confirms foreign-card support for eligible subway machines handling short-term Climate Card passes and single-journey tickets. Check the payment options displayed by the actual machine or seller for ordinary Tmoney loading.
Should a Gyeonggi resident use the Seoul Climate Companion Pass?
No. Seoul directs residents of the previously connected Gyeonggi areas to The Gyeonggi Pass. Local enhancements are determined by your registered residence.
Official references
- Ministry of Land — Everyone’s Card guidance
- K-Pass — eligibility and registration
- Seoul — Climate Companion Pass launch
- Seoul — Climate Companion Pass FAQ
- Seoul — end of the 30-day Climate Card
- Tmoney — cards for international visitors
- Tmoney — Apple Wallet launch notice
Information notice: Transportation products, local eligibility and loading methods can change. This article provides general information checked on September 14, 2026; it does not guarantee a particular reimbursement. Confirm the current status in the official K-Pass, Seoul and card-issuer services before purchasing or loading a large amount.