Seoul Subway & T-money Guide: Fares, Apps and First-Day Tips

Seoul’s subway is fast, safe and easier than it looks once you know three rules: choose the right card, tap every time you enter and exit, and check the station exit before you surface. This first-timer guide explains the current fares, T-money, Climate Card tourist passes, transfers and navigation apps.

Information checked against Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul’s official tourism guide and VISITKOREA in August 2026. Fares, pass coverage and payment methods can change.

Location key map

The quick choice: which card should you buy?

• T-money: best for most first-time visitors who will mix subway, bus, airport transport, taxis and convenience-store purchases.
• Climate Card short-term pass: worth comparing for one to seven days of intensive travel inside the eligible Seoul service area.
• Single-journey ticket: useful for one subway trip, but it does not work on buses and costs more than the transit-card fare.

Current Seoul subway fares

Official Seoul subway map in English

T-money from purchase to refund

1. Buy a physical card

• Look for a T-money card at convenience stores such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven or emart24, or ask at a participating subway-station customer desk.
• The card itself and the stored travel balance are separate. Tell the cashier you also want to add money.
• A standard physical card normally works immediately after loading; most adult visitors do not need to create an account or register the card.
• Keep the card until the end of the trip. A lost anonymous card and its stored balance are generally difficult to recover.

2. Load or reload it

• For the simplest first load, use Korean-won cash at the convenience-store counter or a subway recharge machine.
• The Korea Tourism Organization’s 2026 visitor guide states that foreign-issued cards are not accepted for ordinary T-money purchase or top-up, so carry some cash.
• On a station machine, choose English, select transit-card recharge, place the card on the marked tray, insert cash and wait for the completed message.
• Load a modest amount first and add more later. This makes end-of-trip refunds easier.

3. Tap correctly

• Subway: tap once at the entry gate and again at the exit gate.
• Bus: tap when boarding and tap again before getting off. The exit tap matters for distance fares and transfer discounts.
• Taxi: where the terminal displays the T-money logo, tell the driver you will pay by transit card and tap at the end of the ride.
• Do not stack the card against other contactless cards while tapping; the reader may detect the wrong one.

4. Check the balance and request a refund

• Check the balance on the gate or bus-reader display, at a recharge machine, or by asking a convenience-store cashier.
• Small remaining balances can usually be refunded at participating convenience stores, subject to the outlet’s limit and a possible service fee.
• VISITKOREA advises that T-money refunds over KRW 50,000 must be handled at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10.
• The card purchase price itself is generally not part of the stored-balance refund. The least stressful plan is to spend most of the balance before departure.

Using a phone: card registration and mobile T-money

Important: a physical T-money card does not have to be registered for normal adult subway and bus travel. Mobile T-money is a separate service and device, SIM, NFC, identity-verification and payment support can vary. International visitors—especially iPhone users or travelers without a Korean phone/payment method—should not assume that downloading an app will turn the phone into a transit card.

1. Check the official Mobile T-money listing for your phone, operating system, NFC hardware and SIM/eSIM compatibility.
2. Install only from the official app store, open the app and select the prepaid option if it is offered.
3. Complete the on-screen terms, phone verification and supported payment setup. Never enter card details into an unofficial download page.
4. Turn on NFC and follow the app’s instruction for the default contactless-payment mode.
5. Add a small test balance, then confirm that the app shows the stored value before attempting a gate.
6. For a mobile-balance refund, use the in-app refund menu; eligibility, bank-account requirements and fees are shown in the app. If setup is unclear, use a physical card instead.

Bus, subway and taxi apps on your phone

Bus and subway route app: first setup

1. Install a Korea-capable map app such as NAVER Map or KakaoMap and choose English where available.
2. Allow location access while using the app. Search destinations by the English place name or paste the Korean address from the venue’s official page.
3. Select public transit and compare the subway exit, bus number, stop ID, walking distance and last-service time.
4. Before boarding, match the bus number and direction shown on the stop display. On the subway, match the line number, color and terminal direction—not just the station name.
5. Save the hotel address in Korean and take a screenshot for moments when data service is weak.

Taxi-hailing app: first setup

1. Visitor-oriented options listed by the Korea Tourism Organization include k.ride and Uber Taxi. Availability and supported payment methods differ.
2. Install the app before going out, set the language, verify the phone number if required and check whether a foreign-issued card is supported.
3. Pin the pickup point on a safe roadside location, then enter the exact destination. Confirm that the written address and map pin match.
4. Choose the vehicle type, review the estimated fare and payment method, then request the ride.
5. Match the plate number and vehicle details before boarding. Never enter a vehicle that does not match the app.
6. If paying in the car, ask the driver to use the meter and request a receipt. T-money payment is possible only when the taxi’s card terminal accepts it.

First-day survival kit: physical T-money card, KRW cash for top-ups, saved hotel address in Korean, offline screenshots, and one map app plus one taxi app installed before leaving Wi-Fi.

Official sources and live checks

• Seoul Metropolitan Government: modes of transport, fares and subway map
• VISITKOREA: transportation cards and refund guidance
• Korea Tourism Organization: 2026 international visitor transportation guide

Last reviewed: August 2026. Always recheck fares, refund limits, app compatibility and payment support shortly before travel.