A single tap-on transit card (교통카드) such as T-money works on subways and city buses across Korea. In Seoul a subway ride costs ₩1,550 and a city bus ₩1,500 by card, and transfers within 30 minutes are free or cheap. Residents who ride often can get 20% or more back each month through the national K-Pass, now called “Everyone’s Card” (모두의 카드).
Key facts
| Card | T-money, Cashbee, or a Korean credit/debit card with a transit function |
| Seoul fares (adult, card) | Subway ₩1,550 base; city bus ₩1,500 (as of October 2026) |
| Transfers | Within 30 minutes of tapping off (1 hour between 21:00 and 07:00) |
| Monthly refund | K-Pass / 모두의 카드: 20% back (30% for ages 19 to 34) with 15+ rides a month |
| Trains | KTX and other trains: Korail; SRT from Suseo: SR |
| Lost items | lost112.go.kr (police lost and found) |
Transit cards
- T-money (티머니) or Cashbee (캐시비): buy at convenience stores and subway stations for a few thousand won, then top up with cash at station machines or convenience stores. They work nationwide on subways and most city buses, and in many taxis.
- Korean credit or debit card with transit function (후불교통카드): once you have a Korean bank account, many cards can be used to tap in and are billed later.
- Phone payment: Android phones can run the mobile T-money app.
Always tap your card when you get off a bus, not just on. If you don't, you lose the transfer discount and may be charged the maximum distance fare.
How fares and transfers work in Seoul
Subway fares are distance-based: the ₩1,550 base covers the first 10 km, and longer trips add ₩100 per extra distance band. City buses charge a flat fare (blue and green buses ₩1,500, smaller village buses less, red express buses more). Paying cash costs more and does not give transfers.
When you transfer between subway and bus (or bus to bus) within 30 minutes of tapping off, you pay only the extra distance, not a new base fare. You can transfer up to four times on one journey. Other cities, such as Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, have their own fares but the same card works.
Bus ₩1,500 → tap off → board subway 10 minutes later → tap off after 15 km total. You pay ₩1,500 + a small distance top-up, not ₩1,500 + ₩1,550.
Monthly passes and refunds
Everyone’s Card (모두의 카드, K-Pass)
The national K-Pass (케이패스) refunds part of what you spend on public transport if you ride 15 times or more in a month. In 2026 it was expanded and branded 모두의 카드 (Everyone’s Card). It works in two ways, and the system pays whichever is better for you:
- Percentage refund: 20% for general adults, 30% for young adults (19 to 34), 53% for low-income recipients.
- Flat-amount mode: everything you spend above a monthly base amount is refunded, for example ₩62,000 for a general adult (₩55,000 for young adults).
Foreign residents with a residence card (외국인등록증) can register. You need a K-Pass card from a participating card company or the mobile T-money app, a Korean phone number in your name for identity check, and a bank account for refunds. Register on the K-Pass website or app. If your phone is not in your own name, see Phone and Identity Verification.
Seoul’s Climate Card (기후동행카드)
Seoul’s 30-day unlimited Climate Card ended on 1 October 2026. Seoul residents now use Everyone’s Card with Seoul’s extra benefits (marketed as 기후동행패스). The short-term Climate Card passes for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days continue and suit visitors.
Trains
| Service | Operator | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| KTX, ITX, Mugunghwa | Korail (코레일) | letskorail.com, Korail Talk app, stations |
| SRT (from Suseo, southeast Seoul) | SR | SRT app or website |
Tickets usually go on sale about a month ahead. For Seollal and Chuseok there is a special advance sale, and seats sell out within hours. The Korail Pass is only for foreign tourists, not residents.
Buses between cities
Express buses (고속버스) and intercity buses (시외버스) leave from terminals such as Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Dong Seoul. Book on the Kobus site or app for express buses, or the T-money GO app for many intercity routes.
Taxis
Taxis are metered. In Seoul a regular taxi starts at ₩4,800 (as of October 2026), with a surcharge late at night. Kakao T is the main app, and most taxis take cards and T-money. Use the back seat seatbelt; it is required on all roads.
Getting around tips
- Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for directions. Google Maps does not give full walking or driving directions in Korea.
- Pink seats on the subway are for pregnant women, and seats at the ends of cars are priority seats.
- Night buses (N-numbered, 심야버스) run in Seoul late at night after the subway closes.
Common questions
Can I get a cheaper fare as a student?
Teen fares apply to ages 13 to 18 once the card is registered with a birth date. University students pay adult fares but get the 30% young-adult K-Pass refund if aged 19 to 34.
What happens to money left on my T-money card when I leave Korea?
Convenience stores can refund small balances for a fee. Larger balances are refunded at T-money’s service points.
Do I need the Climate Card or K-Pass?
If you commute every weekday in the Seoul area, Everyone’s Card almost always saves money. If you ride fewer than 15 times a month, a plain T-money card is enough.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.