Getting around Korea: T-money, cashless buses and Seoul's Climate Card

Korea is one of the few countries where a single prepaid card gets you onto buses, subways and taxis almost everywhere. For a visitor, buying one on the first day is the most useful thing you can do.

T-money and EZL cards

• According to the Korea Tourism Organization, T-money and EZL cards work on virtually all public transport in Korea: subways, city buses, express and intercity buses, taxis and trains
• Sold at convenience stores nationwide and at Seoul subway information centres (Lines 1–8); the card itself costs 3,000–5,000 won
• Top up at subway ticket machines or convenience stores
• Paying by card gets you the bus–subway transfer discount; cash fares do not

Source: Korea Tourism Organization — transportation cards

Many buses do not take cash

Korean cities have been switching buses to cashless operation. Seoul lists 183 cashless routes (January 2026), while other Seoul buses still take cash. The Korea Tourism Organization says all city buses in Incheon, Daegu and Gwangju are cashless. Free transfer rules also differ from city to city — Seoul allows up to four free transfers, Busan two.

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — cashless bus routes, January 2026 (Korean)

Source: Korea Tourism Organization — city buses

Seoul's Climate Card short-term passes

• Unlimited-ride passes for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days, priced from 5,000 to 20,000 won, on a physical card that costs 3,000 won
• The pass starts when you load it — you cannot load it in advance for a later date
• Since 1 October 2026 it covers the subway within Seoul, Seoul-licensed city and village buses (night and circular buses included), and getting off at Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2
• Areas outside Seoul that used to be included — Gimpo, Goyang, Gwacheon, Guri, Seongnam, Hanam, Namyangju and others — no longer are
• Since 17 March 2026, the new ticket machines at Seoul subway Lines 1–8 accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards for buying and loading the pass, with an average service fee of 3.7%

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card short-term pass coverage from 1 October 2026 (Korean)

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — foreign cards at ticket machines from 17 March 2026 (Korean)