Seoul's subway relies on T-Money, and most apps demand a Korean phone number to sign up. The good news? There are several easy workarounds, and even some locals forget about them.
Why Korea's Transit Payment System Confuses Foreigners
Seoul's Metro accepts a bunch of payment methods, but digital payment apps like KakaoPay and Naver Pay hit a wall since they all need a local phone number to work. Even the official T-Money app won’t let you create an account without one. It’s for safety, sure, but it leaves travelers stuck staring at the turnstile.
This wasn’t an issue before, because physical T-Money cards were the only game in town. Now that most people have switched to their phones, the old-school methods seem buried, but they still do the job just fine.
Method 1: Buy a Physical T-Money Card (Still the Easiest)
You can find T-Money cards at any convenience store for ₩2,500 to ₩4,000. No app, no ID, no problem. Just hand over cash, and you’re good to go.
Where to find them:
- Look inside any CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven shops, especially by subway exits.
- T-Money vending machines can be found at any major station, usually near ticket counters.
- Airport convenience stores sell T-Money cards, but expect a small price bump.
To add cash, go back to the same stores or use the reload machines at subway stations. The machines offer English displays. The minimum reload is ₩1,000, with a cap of ₩90,000 on a single card.
Weird but true: lots of locals keep an old-school T-Money card tucked away, just in case the digital system hiccups during the morning rush.
Method 2: Use International Cards at the Gates
Since 2023, a few subway gates now accept international cards straight up, no T-Money needed. Just look for the contactless Visa or Mastercard logo on the gate.
Which cards can you use:
- Visa or Mastercard with contactless payment
- Apple Pay using an international card
- Google Pay using an international card
- Select AMEX cards (but only at some stations)
Important detail most blogs forget: only the big stations like Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seoul Station, and those on the Incheon Airport line have these gates. Smaller neighborhood stations still don’t accept them. So this trick works well in tourist-heavy areas, but you’ll hit a wall once you wander into residential Seoul.
The fare hits your bank in won, and they convert it quietly in the background—no signup, no drama. Just keep an eye on the exchange rate; sometimes it bites.
Method 3: Climate Card for Stays Over a Week
Planning to stick around more than 7 days? Go for the Climate Card, Seoul’s all-you-can-ride pass. For ₩65,000, you get a 30-day ticket for all subways and buses.
You can pick it up at:
- Seoul Tourism Plaza, Myeongdong
- Major station service desks
- Some convenience stores (just bring your passport)
No phone number, just your passport. If you think you’ll make 60 trips in a month—or 2 trips a day—this one’s for you. Commuters get the best bang, casual riders may break even or lose.
Common Traps to Dodge
Avoid “tourist” T-Money cards at the airport. They’re the same cards the corner store sells, just dressed up and ₩10,000 richer. A plain card does the exact same job.
Single-journey tickets cost you. They look simple but slap a ₩500 deposit on your bill each ride (you get it back at special machines). Many visitors don’t realize every trip is a mini fee.
Expired T-Money cards lurk. If a card sits for 5 years, it dies and needs a trip to the service center to wake up. If you’re in a small shop, ask straight for a brand-new card; some places still carry those dusty old ones.
What International Visitors Should Know
Takeaway Box:
- Grab a physical T-Money card on arrival for fuss-free tap-on/tap-off
- International contactless cards work but only at bigger stations
- Thinking of two weeks? Grab a Climate Card for unlimited travel
- Keep a ₩10,000 note in your wallet—tech glitches do happen
Lots of Seoulites still choose physical cards for the simple ease of it. No sign-ups, no battery drains, and no prying eyes on your travel habits. A quick trip to the vending machine to add more cash feels a lot simpler than resetting a password.
The city is still gunning for a 2025 goal of fully digital transit, but plastic cards are still here to stay. By law, operators must keep the option for foreign visitors and older passengers. Turns out, a little laminated chip can outlast the flashiest new gadget.