💳 Transportation Cards

Tmoney, EZL, Climate Card or WOWPASS: which one to get, where to buy it, how to load and use it.

🔎 Which card should I get?

Most travelers only need one transportation card. Tap what describes your trip.

⭐ Not sure? Get a Tmoney card.

It is the simplest choice for most first-time visitors and is widely accepted on public transportation across Korea.

1. BUY
2. LOAD
3. TAP
4. TRAVEL

🚨 Five things to remember

1
One card per traveler is easiest.
2
Tap when boarding AND when leaving a bus.
3
Use the same card when you transfer.
4
Do not load too much money at once.
5
KTX and intercity buses need separate tickets.

I need help with…

Where to buy a card How to reload How to use on the subway How to use on a bus How transfers work Which card for Seoul Can I use it in Busan or Jeju?My card is not working

Quick card comparison

	Tmoney	EZL	Climate Card	WOWPASS
Best for	Most travelers	Alternative to Tmoney	Heavy Seoul transit	Payment and transit
Seoul	✅	✅	✅ Unlimited	✅
Busan, Jeju and other cities	✅ Widely	✅ Widely	❌	✅
Bus and subway	✅	✅	Seoul only	✅
Taxi	Many compatible taxis	Some compatible taxis	❌	Via the Tmoney function
Shop payments	Some partners	Some partners	❌	✅
Unlimited rides	❌	❌	✅	❌
Reloadable	✅	✅	Pass based	✅

Acceptance can vary by operator and location. Look for the Tmoney or EZL logo before you use the card.

Tmoney: the easiest choice for most visitors

Use Tmoney if you

✓ are visiting more than one Korean city
✓ plan to ride buses and subways
✓ want the simplest card
✓ do not know how much public transport you will use

💵 How much does it cost?

A basic card usually costs about ₩3,000 to ₩5,000, depending on the design.

The card price is not transportation credit. You must add money before you ride.

EZL (formerly known as Cashbee)

Another prepaid transportation card sold at convenience stores across Korea. It works on buses, the subway and many taxis, and is a good alternative to Tmoney.

EZL (Cashbee) official site

Tourist products such as the Tmoney Mpass or the Tmoney Travel Card also exist. They have limits, so compare them on the Tmoney site first. Tmoney official site

Climate Card: best for heavy Seoul travel

For short-term visitors, the passes to look at are the 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7-day Climate Card passes. They give unlimited rides on eligible Seoul transit during the pass period.

1 day

₩5,000

2 days

₩8,000

3 days

₩10,000

5 days

₩15,000

7 days

₩20,000

The physical card costs ₩3,000 separately. Since 20 March 2025 you can buy short-term passes with an overseas-issued credit or debit card.

✅ Good choice if

• You stay mainly in Seoul
• You ride the subway or bus many times a day
• Most places are inside the covered area

⚠️ Not ideal if

• You will visit Busan, Jeju, Daegu or Daejeon
• You often travel outside Seoul
• You only take a few rides a day

✅ Included

• Eligible Seoul subway lines
• Seoul-licensed city buses
• Seoul village buses

❌ Not included, check first

• Shinbundang Line and some other lines
• Airport limousine and intercity buses
• Many routes outside Seoul
• Ttareungi bikes and the Hangang Bus (short-term passes)

About the 30-day card

The old 30-day prepaid Climate Card could be recharged until 31 August 2026. A new Climate Pass for residents started on 1 September 2026. Short-term visitors should look at the 1 to 7 day passes.

Seoul: Climate Card

WOWPASS: transit and payments

Best if you want one card for shopping, currency exchange and public transportation. You need your passport to get one, and the card itself costs about ₩5,000.

⚠️ Important: two separate balances

Your WOWPASS payment balance and your Tmoney transportation balance are separate. Shop payments use the payment balance. Buses and subways use the Tmoney balance, which you top up separately.

Payment balance

Restaurants, shops, cafes

Tmoney transportation balance

Subway, bus, and taxis where supported

The WOWPASS app can show and manage your transport balance, so you do not have to rely on cash at a convenience store.

WOWPASS official site

Where to buy a card

🏪 Convenience stores

Look for CU, GS25 or 7-Eleven. Tmoney and EZL are sold at stores across Korea, also at the airport.

🚇 Subway stations

Some stations have customer service centers and machines in the Seoul area. Climate Card machines are in Seoul Metro stations.

📱 App or kiosk

WOWPASS is sold at kiosks and through its app. You need your passport.

How to add money

🏪 At a convenience store

1
Give the card to the cashier
2
Say: “T-money charge, please.”
3
Tell them how much to add
4
Pay
5
Check the balance

티머니 충전해주세요

T-money chungjeon hae-juseyo

🚇 At a subway station machine

1
Find a transportation-card charging machine
2
Select English
3
Place the card on the reader
4
Select the amount
5
Pay
6
Wait until charging is complete

How much should I load?

Trip	Suggested starting balance
1–2 days	₩10,000–₩20,000
3–5 days	₩20,000–₩30,000
1 week	₩30,000–₩50,000

This is only a guide. You can always add more later, so you rarely need to load a lot at once.

How to use it on the subway

➡️ Entering

Tap your card on the gate reader.

💳 CARD → ✓ BEEP → 🚪 GATE OPENS

⬅️ Leaving

Tap the same card again when you leave the station.

How to use it on a bus

🚌 When boarding

Tap → wait for the beep → board

🚪 Before getting off

Tap again → get off

⚠️ Always tap when getting OFF a bus

Tapping off is often needed to get the correct fare and the transfer discount.

🚌 Bus guide → · 🚇 Subway guide →

How transfers work

Many Korean cities use an integrated transfer fare. If you transfer between eligible buses and subways inside the local time limit, you may pay a reduced or zero extra base fare. The rules differ by city, route and type of transport.

Tap when you board
Tap when you get off
Transfer within the time limit
Tap onto the next bus or subway

Transfers are not always free: distance or fare differences can still add to the price.

Can I use the same card outside Seoul?

Yes, in most cases. You normally do not need to buy a new transportation card when you move from Seoul to another Korean city.

Seoul

Tmoney and EZL are widely accepted. The Climate Card covers eligible Seoul transit.

Busan

Use Tmoney or EZL on local buses and the subway.

Daegu

The city lists Tmoney and compatible prepaid cards for buses and the subway.

Daejeon

Tmoney can be used on city buses and the metro.

Gwangju

Use a standard compatible card such as Tmoney or EZL where it is supported.

Jeju

A nationwide-compatible card is much easier than cash on public buses.

Some local services may have exceptions, so look for the Tmoney or EZL logo.

What a transportation card does not replace

🚇 Local transport

Tap your transportation card.

🚄 City-to-city transport

Buy a separate ticket for KTX, intercity trains, express and intercity buses, and domestic flights.

🚄 Train / KTX →🚍 Intercity Bus →🛫 Domestic Flights →

One card for several people? Children? Balance?

One card per person

On some buses you can tell the driver how many people are paying with one card. That makes transfers and subway rides complicated. For simple travel, give each traveler their own card.

Children and teenagers

To get a youth fare for someone aged 18 or under, ask the store to register their date of birth when you buy the card. 어린이/청소년 등록해주세요.

Check your balance

The balance often shows after you tap on a reader. You can also ask a convenience store cashier, use a charging machine, or use the card’s app where it has one.

Before you leave Korea: remaining balance

Tmoney

Small balances can be refunded at convenience stores. A balance above ₩50,000 has to be handled at a Tmoney designated place.

EZL

Convenience stores refund only small balances, under ₩20,000.

WOWPASS

Cash withdrawal at the kiosks.

Best tip

Avoid loading too much money near the end of your trip. The card price itself is not refunded.

Can I just tap my Visa or Mastercard?

⚠️ Do not assume your foreign contactless card works at the gate

Not yet on most public transport. Tmoney announced in September 2026 an open-loop system for overseas Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB cards, but it is planned to start with Seoul buses in 2027. Use a transportation card unless the operator clearly shows that foreign contactless cards are accepted.

Common problems

❌ The gate or reader will not accept my card

→ Check the balance first. Then try again once, and ask station or bus staff.

❌ My balance is too low

→ Reload at a convenience store or a charging machine before your next ride.

❌ I tapped the wrong card

→ Use the same card for the whole trip, especially when transferring.

❌ I forgot to tap when I got off the bus

→ Tap next time. A missed tap can affect the fare and the transfer discount.

❌ My WOWPASS works in shops but not on the bus

→ The Tmoney transport balance is separate. Top it up in the WOWPASS app or at a kiosk.

Transportation card FAQ

Can I use Tmoney outside Seoul?

Yes. Tmoney is widely accepted on public transportation in major cities across Korea.

Do I need a new card in Busan?

Usually not. A nationwide-compatible card such as Tmoney can normally keep being used.

Can I use Tmoney in Jeju?

It is commonly used on public buses in Jeju.

Can I use Tmoney for KTX?

Do not use it as a replacement for a KTX reservation. Buy a separate train ticket.

Can two people use one card?

One card per traveler is strongly recommended, especially when transfers are involved.

Can I recharge with a foreign credit card?

It varies by card and machine. Some tourist services and newer machines accept international cards, while traditional charging places can have limits. Cash always works at convenience stores.

Can I use my Visa directly on the subway?

Do not assume so. Korea is preparing open-loop payments for foreign contactless cards, starting with Seoul buses in 2027, but it is not available everywhere yet.

What happens if my balance is too low?

Reload the card at a convenience store or a charging machine before your next journey.

Do I have to tap when I leave a bus?

Yes. It is strongly recommended, and many local systems need it to handle transfers correctly.

Can I use Apple Pay instead of Tmoney?

Do not rely on Apple Pay as your main public-transport payment in Korea. A physical Tmoney or EZL card is the simplest choice for most visitors.

Read the full T-money guide →

Official information

Prices, acceptance and rules can change. Always check the official operator before you travel.

Information last verified: 2026-10-07 · Updated: 2026-10-07