T-Money Card is the rechargeable card that you can use on the public transport that will take you around Seoul and in several other cities in South Korea.
Making the ticket for the bus and the subway to all the occasions in which you have to move can be uncomfortable especially because, given the size of the various cities, going around you will need to use one of the public transport several times.
The card can also be used to pay the fares of some taxis and as a prepaid card in different shops, you can put money on the T-Money card and look around the city for the shops that display the T-Money logo that will allow you to buy from them.
There are discounts on travel fares and if you change your transport, within the half-hour limit between one transfer and another, from subway to bus, from bus to bus or from bus to subway you do not pay or are charged only a small amount on the T-Money Card.
Price of the T-Money Card
The T-Money Card costs 4’000won (on the date of this article) which are around 4us Dollars or just over 3 Euros at current exchange rates.
Where to buy the T-Money Card
You can buy the card when you arrive at the airport, at every subway station or in the various convenience stores like 7-Eleven, GS25, CU, Ministop, Buy The Way …
You can find it in funny versions like the ones with the Kakaotalk characters.
Where to top up the T-Money Card
The T-Money Card can be recharged at one of the automatic machines at each station (only accept cash) on the subway or in the various convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, GS25, CU, Ministop, Buy The Way …
Where to get the T-Money Card reimbursed
If you still have credit on the T-Money Card and you are leaving you can have a refund of the money that is still on your card. You can request them at one of the convenience stores, 500W are retained as a service fee.
The card does not expire, so if you intend to return you can reuse it.
Where to use the T-Money Card
Public buses: Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan, Sejong, Jeju-do and several other cities in South Korea.
Subways: Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju.
Taxi : they must display the T-money logo.
There are also several convenience stores (where they sell, top up and return the credit card) shops, shopping malls, cafes, fast food chains and tourist attractions who are starting to accept the T-Money Card, if you see the payment system symbol you can use your card to buy.
Some examples:
Convenience stores
Shopping centers
More chain stores and restaurants
How to use the T-Money Card
In the subways you will find the various turnstiles to access the line, place the card on the reader placed above it and wait for the beep before entering. The sensor will show you the fare and how much money you still have on the card. Repeat the same thing for when you go out.
In the buses , place the card on the reader that you will find next to the driver. Same thing as on the subway, wait for the beep and remember to use the T-Money Card before leaving public transport, so that you can take advantage of discounts on transfers.
On the taxis that display the symbol T-money or Cashbee, inform the taxi driver that you will pay with the T-Money Card and use the reader in the car.
In the stores that display the T-Money Logo, pass the card on the sensor next to the cash desk.
I have found that using the T-Money Card is really convenient, both economically and practically, especially when taking transports. I recommend buying it if you decide to come to South Korea!
