What should you compare first?
Prepaid transit cards are widely used on Korean buses and metro networks. But not every card, route, seller or top-up method works identically. Start with the cities and transport services you plan to use.
Tmoney: a straightforward transport option
Tmoney is a prepaid transit-card network with published sales, top-up and transit guidance. Buying a physical card is separate from adding travel balance. Supported transport, card types and acceptable payment methods may vary by network or retailer: verify before travelling.
EZL: check routes and refunds
EZL (formerly Cashbee) also provides prepaid transport products. Its official website separately describes transit usage and refunds. Region and route exceptions can apply. Refund locations, limits and fees depend on the balance and method; do not assume every convenience store can immediately refund the entire amount.
WOWPASS: keep payment and transit balances separate
WOWPASS combines a travel-oriented domestic payment product with a Tmoney transport function. The regular card-payment balance and the Tmoney transit balance are managed separately. Loading the first does not necessarily top up the second. Check eligibility, currencies, loading, withdrawals and transport top-ups on the current official site or app.
A practical arrival checklist
- Check whether your specific bus and metro routes accept the card.
- Separate the initial card purchase cost from travel balance.
- Confirm where and how the balance can be topped up.
- Before departure, review balance refund limits, locations and fees.
Prices, card availability and operator conditions can change. Use the official links for a final check.