How to Use Transport Cards, the Subway, Buses and the KTX

Buying and topping up a transport card

Where to buy

• Buy one at convenience stores such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and emart24.
• Subway station information desks and convenience stores also sell them.
• The main brands are T-money (티머니) and Ezl (이즐, formerly Cashbee/캐시비). Both work across the country.
• The card price depends on the type and design. A basic card usually costs about 2,500원. Check the exact price at the convenience store counter. (Prices differ by store. Official confirmation needed)
• You cannot get back the money you paid for the card itself. You only get back the money you put on the card.

How to top up (add money)

1. Convenience store: Give your card to the cashier and say "충전해 주세요" ("Please top it up"). As a rule, you pay in cash.
2. Subway station machine: Put your card on the "1회용 발매·교통카드 충전기" (single-ride ticket and transport card top-up machine) in the station and choose the amount. Many machines take cash only.
3. App: Some apps let you top up by holding the card against the back of your smartphone.

There is a limit to how much money one card can hold. It is usually 500,000원. There is also a limit on how much you can add at one time. Ask at the convenience store.

Mobile T-money

• This lets you use your phone itself as a transport card. You do not need a plastic card.
• Download the app from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone).
• Choose between prepaid (you put money in first) and postpaid (what you use is charged to your bank card once a month).
• With prepaid, you can top up from a bank account, debit card, credit card or phone bill payment.
• It does not work on some phone models. Install the app and check first.

Getting your remaining balance back

• You can get your remaining money back at convenience stores, some bank ATMs, and subway station customer service centers.
• The fee is 500원. If you get back more than 20,000원, an extra 4% is charged.
• Convenience stores give back up to 20,000–30,000원 at one time. Bank ATMs give back up to 500,000원 per month.
• Get your refund before you go back to your home country.

Fares and transfer discounts

Seoul fares (transport card, adult)

Type	Fare
Subway	1,550원 (cash or single-ride ticket: 1,650원)
City bus (trunk and branch lines)	1,500원
Village bus (마을버스)	1,200원
Wide-area bus	3,000원
Late-night bus	2,500원

On the subway, the basic fare covers up to 10km. From 10km to 50km, 100원 is added for every 5km. Over 50km, 100원 is added for every 8km. The farther you go, the more you pay.

Fares are different in each region. Outside Seoul, check the website of the local city hall or county office (시청·군청).

Transfer discount rules

• If you get on another bus or train within 30 minutes after getting off, you get a discount.
• From 21:00 to 07:00 the next day, the limit is 60 minutes.
• You can transfer up to 4 times. This means you can ride up to 5 times in one trip.
• Each person must use their own card. If two people tap with one card, the transfer discount does not work.
• Tap your card when you get on and when you get off. If you do not tap when you get off the bus, your next transfer will not count.
• If your balance is too low, the transfer may not work. Top up your card before you travel.

Early morning discount

From the first bus or train until 06:30, you get 20% off the transport card fare on your first ride. If you go to work early in the morning, it is applied automatically.

Single-ride transport card

• If you do not have a card, buy a single-ride card at the station.
• You pay a 500원 deposit on top of the fare.
• Get your 500원 back from the "보증금 환급기" (deposit refund machine) at the station where you get off. Do not forget.

Postpaid transport cards

• If you add the transport function to your debit card or credit card, you do not need to top up. The amount you use is taken out later.
• Credit cards are only issued to people aged 19 or older. Debit cards can have the transport function from age 12.
• With a debit card, you can ride even if your bank account is empty. The money is taken from your account later. Check your balance.
• Rules for foreigners are different for each card company. If your period of stay is short, you may be refused. Ask your bank or card company. (Official confirmation needed)

Map and route apps

• Naver Map (네이버 지도) and KakaoMap (카카오맵) are the most accurate in Korea. They show subway times, bus arrival times and transfer information.
• You can change the language in the app settings. Each app supports different languages, so check the settings menu.
• Google Maps has limited driving directions in Korea. Public transport directions work.
• There are also many subway-only apps. Check the supported languages in the app store description before you download.
• Search for your destination in Korean to get better results. Copying and pasting the address is easiest.

Booking KTX and SRT tickets

KTX (Korail/코레일)

1. Download the Korail Talk (코레일톡) app or go to korail.com.
2. You can change the language in the app settings.
3. You can book as a non-member without signing up. You only need your name, phone number and a password.
4. Whether a foreigner can sign up with a 외국인등록번호 (foreign registration number) depends on the situation. If it does not work, call the Korail customer center at 1588-7788. (Official confirmation needed)
5. Large stations such as Seoul Station and Yongsan Station have a counter for foreigners. Bring your passport and you can buy a ticket there.
6. There is a separate multilingual booking website. Scan the QR code posted at the station to open it. You can also pay with a card issued outside Korea.

SRT (SR/에스알)

• The SRT app supports English, Chinese and Japanese.
• You can book in English on the website (etk.srail.kr). On the booking screen, choose Foreigner instead of Korean, and you can pay with a foreign card.
• For questions, call the SR customer center at 1800-1472.

For both

• Tickets usually go on sale one month before departure. Holidays and weekends sell out fast.
• When you buy a ticket, write your name exactly as it is on your passport or 외국인등록증.
• When buying at a station counter, write your destination and time on paper and show it. This makes it easy.

Booking intercity and express buses

• T-money GO (티머니GO): Book express buses and intercity buses in one app.
• Kobus (코버스): For express buses only. Run by the 전국고속버스운송사업조합 (National Express Bus Association).
• Bustago (버스타고): For intercity buses only. Run by the 전국시외버스운송사업조합 (National Intercity Bus Association).
• Which app you need depends on the computer system used by the departure terminal. If you cannot find your route in one app, try another app.
• You do not need a paper ticket. Show the QR code in the app to get on.
• If you do not have a ticket, you can buy one at the terminal counter. Rural routes often have many empty seats.

Taxis

• In Seoul, the basic fare for a regular taxi is 4,800원 for the first 1.6km. After that, 100원 is added every 131m, or every 30 seconds when the taxi moves slowly.
• There is a late-night extra charge.
  • 22:00–23:00 and 02:00–04:00: 20% extra (basic fare 5,800원)
  • 23:00–02:00: 40% extra (basic fare 6,700원)
• If you leave Seoul, an extra 20% for going outside the city is added. All extra charges together are at most 60%.
• Fares are different in each region. Outside Seoul, check the local rules.
• If you call a taxi with an app such as Kakao T (카카오T), you do not need to explain your destination in words.
• Check that the meter is on. If the driver does not turn on the meter and just names a price, that is not a proper fare.
• Keep the receipt. It makes it easier to find things you leave in the taxi.

Do not ride without paying properly

• Riding without a ticket or card, or paying less than the full fare, is fare evasion (riding without paying properly).
• Using a child, youth or senior discount card when you are not eligible is also fare evasion.
• If you are caught, under 철도사업법 제10조제1항 (Railroad Business Act, Article 10(1)), you pay the fare for the distance you rode plus an extra charge of up to 30 times that fare.
• Riding without paying can bring a fine of up to 100,000원, short detention, or a small fine under the 경범죄 처벌법 (Minor Offenses Act).
• A record of a fine or penalty can hurt you when you apply to extend your stay or when your visa is reviewed.
• If your card does not work or your balance is too low, tell the station staff or the driver first. If you tell them, it will not be a problem.

Ways to save on transport costs

• K-Pass (K-패스): A government program that gives you back part of your fare if you use public transport 15 times or more in a month. It is about 20% for most people and 30% for young people. The official guide says it is for "Korean citizens aged 19 or older." Some guides say you can sign up with a 외국인등록번호, but the conditions may be different. Check first in the K-Pass app or website whether you can sign up. (Official confirmation needed)
• The early morning discount makes morning fares 20% cheaper.
• Ask your company if it runs a commuter bus.
• If you can go by bicycle, a bicycle is the cheapest.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I buy a transport card without a 외국인등록증? A. Yes. Buy one with cash at a convenience store. You do not even need to write your name.

Q. I did not tap my card when I got off. A. You lose the transfer discount and may pay more on your next ride. If this happens many times, your card may be restricted. Make it a habit to always tap.

Q. I lost my card. A. If your name is not registered to the card, you cannot get back the money on it. Do not keep a large amount on the card.

Q. Does my Seoul transport card work in other regions? A. T-money and Ezl work in most regions of the country. But the transfer discount rules are different in each region.

Q. I missed my train. A. After the departure time, you get back less money. If you think you will be late, cancel in the app before departure.

Where to get help

• 외국인종합안내센터 (Immigration Contact Center) 1345 (many languages)
• T-money customer center 1644-0088
• Korail customer center 1588-7788
• SR (SRT) customer center 1800-1472
• Seoul transport fare information news.seoul.go.kr/traffic