## The simple version For many visitors, a regular T-money card remains the easiest default for buses and subways around Korea. It is a reloadable prepaid transport card sold widely at convenience stores and used across public transport and participating merchants. ## Where to get one VISITKOREA lists nationwide convenience stores and Seoul subway information locations among the places where T-money cards are sold. Card designs and prices vary. If you are under 18 and want youth transit discounts, your date of birth needs to be registered at purchase. ## The payment detail that surprises visitors Do not assume a foreign credit card can be used for every transport-card transaction. Korea Tourism Organization’s 2026 transport guide states that foreign-issued credit cards are not accepted for purchasing or topping up ordinary prepaid T-money and that cash is required for those transactions. That is different from a separate 2026 Seoul change: new ticket machines on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8 can accept internationally issued credit/debit cards for single-journey tickets and short-term Climate Cards. This does **not** mean every ordinary T-money top-up now accepts a foreign card. ## How to use it Tap when entering and leaving subways. On buses, tap when boarding and also tap when getting off when required for transfer/fare calculation. Keeping enough balance before the final leg is easier than discovering a low balance at a bus stop. ## T-money, Climate Card and other visitor cards are not the same product A standard T-money is pay-as-you-go. Seoul’s Climate Card is a separate Seoul-focused transit-pass product with its own coverage and time options. VISITKOREA notes that the 30-day Climate Card product was discontinued from October 1, 2026, while short-term passes continue. Other products such as EZL and WOWPASS may also include transport functions, but they have different payment and refund rules. ## Before leaving Korea Refund rules depend on balance and location. Avoid loading far more cash than you expect to use near the end of a short trip. If you need a refund, check the current T-money rules and available refund locations rather than assuming every convenience store can handle any balance. ## Best default for a first trip If you simply want one card for ordinary buses and subways across multiple Korean cities, a regular T-money is a practical starting point. If your trip is concentrated in Seoul and involves very frequent rides, compare the short-term Climate Card instead of automatically buying both.