T-money vs Climate Card 교통카드 비교
Seoul has a pay-as-you-go card and a flat-rate tourist pass. Which one wins depends on how many times a day you tap. Tell us and we will do the maths.
The two cards
| T-money | Climate Card (tourist pass) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Rechargeable card, pay per ride | Flat pass for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days |
| Price | About ₩4,000 for the card, then ₩1,550 per subway ride, ₩1,500 per bus, free transfers within 30 minutes | ₩5,000 / ₩8,000 / ₩10,000 / ₩15,000 / ₩20,000 |
| Covers | Everything, everywhere in Korea, plus taxis and convenience stores | Seoul subway and Seoul city buses only |
| Does not cover | — | AREX airport train, Shinbundang Line, Gyeonggi and Incheon buses, trips beyond Seoul city limits |
| Buy at | Any convenience store | Station customer centres on lines 1 to 8, some convenience stores near stations, or the Climate Card app |
The Climate Card is a Seoul city product. It is excellent if you stay inside the city and ride a lot. Step outside Seoul on a day trip, or take the airport express, and the gate will refuse it. Most visitors who do both end up with a Climate Card for the city days and a T-money card for everything else, which is fine: the T-money card costs less than a coffee.
Questions people ask
Does the Climate Card work on the airport train?
No. Use T-money or buy an AREX ticket. The all-stop AREX train is about ₩4,000 to central Seoul; the express is ₩11,000.
Can I use my phone instead of a card?
Android phones with NFC can use mobile T-money apps. iPhone support in Korea is still limited, so most visitors carry the physical card.
Can I get money back from T-money?
Yes, at convenience stores for balances under ₩20,000, with a small fee. Or keep it; it does not expire and works on your next trip.
Fares last checked: September 2026 (Seoul Metro, Seoul Metropolitan Government). Climate Card tourist passes launched 2024; prices may change.