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City of Peace, Suncheon photography course

Let’s relax and enjoy some healing time in Suncheon, a city of peace a…

Barrier-Free Tour through naturally beautiful Jeju

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Korean Wave Drama Course-Pohang

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Busan activity course

Busan is Korea’s iconic tourist city loved by everyone!Let’s go to Bus…

K-Healing & Beauty Tour In Donghae

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Finding Korean Beauty [Jongno - Jung-gu] Course

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The heart of the Korean wave [Gangnam]

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Experience tour with clean nature in

Muju, Jeollabuk-do is recommended if you want to visit various hidden …

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Top places you want to revisit in Korea [Jeonju]

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Security tour location DMZ Peace Tour

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“[Gangneung] emotional trip”, where you can feel the flavour of Gangneung

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BEST 4 Attractions in a World-renowned Historical and Cultural City, [Gyeongju]

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Visit [The Blue House], the hub of Korea and take a lap around Seoul!

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A photo trip of the brilliant scenery of [Gimpo-Goyang]

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Best 6 spring visitor destinations in Korea

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Romantic Ambiant [Yeosu] Summer Course

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HongDae All-in-one Course

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Hallyu TV Drama Course in Gangwon

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Andong Traditional Traveling

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Jeju Family Travel Course

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Jeonju History Exploration Course

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Top 6 tourist attractions in Geoje and Tongyeong

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The Korea Tour Card: Tourist Transportation Card 2024

Travelling to Korea and want to save money on public transport, popular attractions, and cultural experiences? Then you should check out the Korea Tour Card, Korea’s tourist-only transportation card that not only offers you all the benefits of a T-Money card, it also saves you money at top attractions. Pick one up at Incheon Airport and travel with ease across Korea.

This article will explain where and how to buy a Korea Tour Card, how to add credit to it, and where you can use it to get discounts on popular attractions, shows, shopping, and more. Not sure if you need a transportation card? This article will also explain the benefits of these essential travel cards.

If you’re travelling to Korea and plan to use public transport to get around, which I’d really recommend as it’s amazing, then you’ll definitely want to pick up a Korea Tour Card. Find out why below.

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What Is The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is a pre-paid transportation card with T-Money functions that is exclusively available for tourists to South Korea. Tourists can use the Korea Tour Card to pay for public transportation on Korea’s subways and buses, as well as to receive discounts at attractions and shops.

Here are the key details of the Korea Tour Card. Details about how and where to buy the Korea Tour Card, how and where to use it, and further information will be provided throughout this article.

Korea Tour Card Vs. T-Money

T-Money is the main rechargeable transportation card in Korea and is found in the T-Money card and other prepaid cards, including the Korea Tour Card. It is used to pay for public transportation in Korea.

The Korea Tour Card includes T-Money functions, including paying for public transportation, but also provides exclusive benefits for tourists in Korea.

With The Korea Tour Card, tourists can gain discounts on hundreds of attractions, shops, hotels, and restaurants. A regular T-Money card costs ₩2,500 and the Korea Tour Card costs ₩4,000.

Korea Tour Card Vs. Discover Seoul Pass

The Discover Seoul Pass is a city pass that provides free or discounted entry to dozens of premium attractions in Seoul. The Discover Seoul Pass is valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Like the Korea Tour Card, the Discover Seoul Pass includes T-Money functions to pay for public transportation.

Both the Discover Seoul Pass and Korea Tour Card offer discounts to tourists, however, the price and value of those discounts are significantly different. The Discover Seoul Pass starts at ₩50,000 for a 24 hour pass and gives you free or discounted entry to top attractions.

If you plan to visit Seoul with children, the Discover Seoul Pass can be a great way to save money visiting some of the city’s premium family-friendly attractions. Here are some of the fun places that the Discover Seoul Pass gives you free entry to:

• Lotte World Adventure Theme Park
• COEX Aquarium
• Seoul E-Land FC Stadium
• Nami Island
• Sealala Sauna
• N Seoul Tower
• Color Pool Museum
• Alive Museum
• Zoolung Zoolung

Check out my Discover Seoul Pass itineraries article to find out more about this card and how to use it effectively in Seoul. It comes with 1, 2, and 3 day suggested itineraries to save you more.

Planning to visit Korea? These travel essentials will help you plan your trip, get the best deals, and save you time and money before and during your Korean adventure.

Visas & K-ETA: Some travellers to Korea need a Tourist Visa , but most can travel with a Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA). Currently 22 Countries don’t need either one.

How To Stay Connected : Pre-order a Korean Sim Card or a WiFi Router to collect on-arrival at Incheon Airport (desks open 24-hours). Alternatively, download a Korean eSIM for you travels.

Where To Stay : For Seoul, I recommend Myeongdong (convenient), Hongdae (cool culture) or Gangnam (shopping). For Busan, Haeundae (Beach) or Seomyeon (Downtown).

Incheon Airport To Seoul : Take the Airport Express (AREX) to Seoul Station or a Limo Bus across Seoul. Book an Incheon Airport Private Transfer and relax to or from the airport.

Korean Tour Operators : Tour companies that have a big presence in Korea include Klook , Trazy , Viator , and Get Your Guide . These sites offer discounted entry tickets for top attractions.

Seoul City Passes : Visit Seoul’s top attractions for free with a Discover Seoul Pass or Go City Seoul Pass . These passes are great for families and couples visiting Seoul – you can save lots.

How To Get Around : For public transport, grab a T-Money Card . Save money on Korea’s high speed trains with a Korea Rail Pass . To see more of Korea, there are many rental car options from Klook , EconomyBookings , and RentalCars .

Travel Money : Use money exchanges near Myeongdong and Hongdae subway stations for the best exchange rates. Order a Wise Card or WOWPASS to pay by card across Korea.

Flights To Korea : I use flight comparison sites such as Expedia and Skyscanner to find the best flights to Korea from any country. Air Asia is a good option for budget flights from Asia.

Travel Insurance : It is important to insure your trips to protect yourself against the unexpected. World Nomad is a specialized travel insurance provider with options for different coverage for travellers from around the world. You can also purchase cover when you are already travelling.

How To Learn Korean : The language course from 90 Day Korean or Korean Class 101 both have well-structured lessons and lots of useful resources to help you learn Korean.

Where To Buy The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is exclusively designed for tourists to Korea and can be purchased at most points of entry into Korea, including major airports and harbours. You can also preorder a Korea Tour Card online and collect it at one of the following locations, which is also where you can buy them in person.

Korea Tour Card purchase locations:

• Incheon Airport, Terminal 1
• Incheon Airport, Terminal 2
• Gimpo Airport (Seoul)
• Gimhae Airport (Busan)
• Jeju International Airport
• Daegu International Airport
• Busan Port Passenger Terminal

Buying A Korea Tour Card At Incheon Airport

Most travellers to Korea arrive at Incheon Airport near Seoul. You can purchase a Korea Tour Card from the transportation centres inside Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport. The Korea Tour Card is sold from a vending machine (pictured) near the entrance to the subway that connects Incheon Airport to parts of Seoul.

Please note : You will need cash to purchase the Korea Tour Card (₩4,000) and cash to top up the T-Money balance so you can use it for public transport. Details about how to top up later in this article.

I don’t recommend exchanging money at Incheon Airport at the foreign exchange counters as the rates aren’t good. The exchange rates at money exchanges in Myeongdong, Hongdae, or other popular tourist areas are much better. If you need to get cash to top up your Korea Tour Card, exchange a small amount (less than $50 USD) and convert the rest of your cash in Seoul.

If you are using a travel money card, such as Wise or Revolut , you can withdraw KRW cash from a global ATM at the airport and get a better exchange rate. You can then use this to top up the T-Money balance. Alternatively, you can purchase a WOWPASS Airport Package , which comes with a built in T-Money card with 10,000 KRW starting balance.

Korea Tour Card Designs

There are several designs of the Korea Tour Card that depend on where you purchase the card. These are the main designs you can see in Korea now:

Regular Korea Tour Card

The regular edition of the Korea Tour Card has a blue and pink design and the T-Money logo in the bottom corner. This is the Korea Tour Card design that’s sold at Incheon Airport and most airports, except on the south coast of Korea.

The Korea Tour Card offers T-Money functions as well as discounts in over 200 locations across Korea.

Southern Coast Edition (Busan)

The Southern Coast of Korea edition of the Korea Tour Card, also known as the Namhaean Coast design, is sold in the southern regions of Korea, which stretch from Busan all the way to Mokpo.

There are over 40 exclusive benefits for tourists visiting this part of Korea with this version of the card, as well as the regular benefits of the Korea Tour Card.

Visit Korea Year Limited Edition

The Visit Korea Year Korea Tour Card is a limited edition version of the card that celebrates the Visit Korea project, which runs from 2023 to 2024. There are two designs of the Visit Korea Year edition of the Korea Tour Card – a dark background card and a light background card.

This version of the Korea Tour Card is the same as the regular version and comes with all of the same features and benefits.

How To Top Up The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is the tourist version of a T-Money card and can be topped up in the same way a regular T-Money card can be topped up. You can top up the Korea Tour Card at convenience stores in Korea and at subway stations in major cities, as well as at the T-Money head office in Seoul.

Convenience store chains in Korea include GS25, CU, Emart 24, Story Way, 7/11 and Ministop. There are fives areas in Korea with subway systems, these are the Seoul Capital Area (which includes Incheon), Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju. You can top up at thousands of locations in Korea.

You can only top up the Korea Tour Card with cash . Credit cards aren’t accepted for top ups.

Remember, you will need to have Korean won to top up the Korea Tour Card. All transportation cards in Korea can only be topped up using cash and can’t be topped up using credit or debit cards. The only exception is the mobile versions of these cards, which can be topped up with card payments.

Top Up In Subway Stations

Topping up the Korea Tour Card T-Money balance at a subway station is the easiest option as the top up machines usually have English instructions. Here are the steps to top up at a subway station:

• Select ‘recharge card’ on the screen.
• Select the value to top up.
• Confirm the top up value.
• Insert cash into the machine.
• Place your card on the card reader.
• Wait for the card to recharge.
• Take the card and use it.

Top Up At Convenience Stores

Topping up the Korea Tour Card at a convenience store is the most convenient option as there are thousands of these stores across all of Korea. Here are the steps to top up at a convenience store:

• Go into a convenience store.
• Ask the cashier to top up the card.
• State your desired top up value.
• Pay cash to the cashier.
• Wait for the top up.
• Collect your card and use it.

Where To Use The Korea Tour Card

There are dozens of places you can get discounts on a range of things, including attractions, shopping, services, restaurants, cafes, hanbok rental, river cruises, and more. Discounts are available at popular tourist destinations such as N Seoul Tower, Lotte World Adventure, and the COEX Aquarium.

You’ll find discounts in the major cities of South Korea – Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Daegu. Also, there are select discounts in major tourist areas, such as Jeju Island, Gangneung, Gangjin, and the Namhaean Coast. Use the Korea Tour Card website for a full list of available benefits and locations.

Below is a summary of some of the best benefits available with the Korea Tour Card for each of the different categories (attractions, experiences, shopping, etc.).

Tourist Attractions

Tourists can get discounts at more than 30 popular tourist attractions across Korea with the Korea Tour Card. Here are some of the best attractions benefits:

• N Seoul Tower (20-30% discount)
• Busan X The Sky (10% discount)
• Gwangmyeong Cave (50% discount)
• Korean Folk Village (₩10,000 off)
• Jeju Folk Village (10% discount)
• Nami Island (₩1,000 gift coin)
• Petite France (₩11,000 discount)

Entertainment

The Korea Tour Card offers a range of discounts on family-friendly entertainment options in Seoul and across Korea. Here are some of the best benefits:

• COEX Aquarium (20% discount)
• Everland Resort (30% discount)
• Caribbean Bay (30% discount)
• Hanbok Day (50% discount)
• Lotte World Adventure (30% off)
• Seoul Sky (10% discount)
• Sea Life Busan (30% discount)

Performance / Exhibition

Save money on cultural performances, museums, and exhibitions while you travel in Korea, including family-fun places. Here are some of the best savings:

• Museum Kimchikan (20% discount)
• Brick Campus Jeju (10% discount)
• Animation Museum (20% discount)
• World Doll Musem (20% discount)
• Alive Museum (₩2,000 discount)
• Gangneung Coffee Museum
• Hahoe Mask Museum (10% off)
• Robot Studio (20% discount)

Shopping / Duty-Free

The Korea Tour Card has been designed to allow tourists to Korea to save more when shopping. Here are some places where you can get benefits when shopping:

• The Shilla Duty Free Seoul
• Shinsegae Duty Free Seoul
• Lotte Duty Free
• Hyundai Department Stores
• Hyundai City Outlet Mall
• Gyeongbokgung Duty Free

Korean Experiences

Experience more of Korea than just the main sights and attractions. Here are some of the best discounted experiences you can try with the Korea Tour Card:

• Eland River Cruise (10% discount)
• Hwagyesa Templestay (10% off)
• K-Pop Central (20% discount)
• 3355 Hanbok (20% discount)
• Canoe Kayak Experience (10% off)
• Dynamic Maze (₩2,000 discount)
• Grande Bleu Yacht Tour (30% off)
• Incheon City Tour (20% discount)
• Hyanggyo-Pottery (10% discount)

Namhaean Coast Benefits

If you’re visiting Korea’s southern coast, you can get 40 more discounts across this area with the Namhaean Coast version of the Korea Tour Card. Popular attractions in this area that are discounted include:

• Aqua Planet Yeosu
• Tongyeong Cable Car
• Lotte Water Park
• Skyline Luge Tongyeong
• Geoju Blue City Tour
• Yeosu Cable Car
• Suncheon Filming Locations
• Blue Marina Yachts Tour
• Busan Museum Of Movies
• Geojedo Sea Spa

Korea Tour Card App Mobile Version

There is a mobile version of the Korea Tour Card available to Android users. This version of the card is free and comes with the same T-Money benefits as the regular card (through your phone’s NFC function).

The main difference between the mobile and card versions of the Korea Tour Card is that you can top up using a credit card with the mobile version, whereas the card version can only be topped up with cash.

Should you get the mobile version of the Korea Tour Card instead of the physical version? Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. Although the mobile version is free, the reviews of the app are not good (2.2 / 5) and to use the card you need an active Internet connection to use your phone’s NFC function.

The card version of the Korea Tour Card is easier to use and topping up in cash isn’t a problem once you have some local currency. There is no risk of the card not working, unlike the app, and it’s also faster as you don’t have to wait for anything to load (a big problem according to reviews of the app).

Alternative Korean Transportation Cards

Transportation cards are a hassle-free and money saving way to travel on Korea’s public transportation and can double as nice souvenirs when you get one with a nice design. Besides the Korea Tour Card, here are a range of other Korean transportation cards that provide the same or similar functions:

T-Money Card

The T-Money card is the most popular transportation card in Korea and is cheaper than a Korea Tour Card. You can buy, top up, and pay for things with a T-Money card at the same locations as the Korea Tour Card, but it doesn’t any offer discounts. The T-Money card can be used to pay for small purchases in shops, restaurants, and cafes, including McDonalds and Starbucks.

The WOWPASS card includes T-Money functions, but is more versatile as it is also a Korean debit card. You can top up the WOWPASS card and use it to pay like a local, not just for transportation, but for all your shopping and spending needs. Add up to ₩1,000.000 with 16 different currencies. Check out my guide to WOWPASS to learn more about how to use this useful card.

Cashbee Transportation Card

The main competition to T-Money is the Cashbee transportation card , which can be purchased from convenience stores and subway stations across Korea. Like T-Money, you can use Cashbee to pay for public transportation and small purchases. Cashbee, by Lotte, can also be used in Lotte locations, including Lotte Department Store and Lotte Cinema.

Railplus Transportation Card

The third option for transportation cards in Korea is the Railplus card, which is provided by Korea Rail. These cards are available through Namanecard vending machines in train stations and department stores across Korea. These allow you to personalise your transportation card by uploading a picture which is printed onto the card. Railplus cards can be used on Korea’s train network (unlike other cards).

Is The Korea Tour Card Worth Buying?

Should you get the Korea Tour Card when visiting Korea? I would definitely recommend getting a Korean transportation card to make travelling in Korea easier, cheaper, and more convenient. Whether you get a Korea Tour Card or one of the other transportation cards depends on how you’ll use it.

The price of the Korea Tour Card is ₩4,000, which is only a bit more expensive than a regular T-Money card, but the discounts of the Korea Tour Card can easily save you more. If you plan to visit premium attractions such as the N Seoul Tower, COEX Aquarium, or Lotte World, it’s certainly worth it.

Finally, the Korea Tour Card is available at convenient locations, such as Incheon Airport, which makes it useful for travellers arriving in Korea who want to use the all-stop train to get into Seoul. As public transportation is cheap, effective, and widely available, buying a Korea Tour Card is worth it.

Does The Korea Tour Card Offer The Best Savings?

I wouldn’t rely solely on the discounts of the Korea Tour Card when planning what to see and do in Korea. There are discounted tickets online that might save you more, such as those offered by Klook , Viator , and Get Your Guide . Sometimes the Korea Tour Card is cheaper, sometimes not.

The table below will show you a comparison between the prices you’ll pay with the Korea Tour Card and Klook, which offers the widest range of discounted tours and tickets in Korea. As you can see, the Korea Tour Card is cheaper only when visiting the N Seoul Tower, otherwise Klook has better prices.

Korea Tour Card FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about the Korea Tour Card, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

How much does the Korea Tour Card cost?

The Korea Tour Card costs 4,000 Korean won. This is the price for the card, but doesn’t include any T-Money balance. A regular T-Money card starts at 2,500 Korean won.

Does the Korea Tour Card include T-Money

The Korea Tour Card includes full T-Money functions, which means you can use it to travel on Korea’s subway and bus networks. The T-Money function also allows you to use the Korea Tour Card to pay for taxis and purchases at a range of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Is the Korea Tour Card better than a T-Money card

The Korea Tour Card is better than a T-Money Card as it includes all the functions of the T-Money Card, but also offers discounts on popular tourists sights across Korea, as well as shopping, meals out, experiences, and performance discounts. It can save travellers to Korea more than the small difference in price between the Korea Tour Card and the T-Money Card (1,500 Korean won).

Can you buy the Korea Tour Card at Incheon Airport?

The Korea Tour Card can be purchased at terminals 1 and 2 of Incheon Airport, as well as at major international airports across Korea. The Korea Tour Card can be purchased from vending machines at the transportation centres in either terminal, which is where the all-stop train and Airport Express train depart from to travel into Seoul.

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Hi! My name is Joel, I'm the author of In My Korea and writer of this article. I've lived, worked and travelled in Korea since 2015 and want to share my insights, stories and tips to help you have the best experience during your trip to Korea.

I love learning more about Korean culture, hiking the many mountains, and visiting all the coolest places in Korea, both modern and traditional. If you want to know more about my story, check out the ' about me ' section to learn why I love living in Korea.

2 thoughts on “The Korea Tour Card: Tourist Transportation Card 2024”

Hello JOEL,

Do you know if is it possible to buy a korea tour card associated with a sim card, as a pre paid data sim card with a transportation tmoney card? Thanks. Denis.

Hi, I don’t think you can get a Korea Tour Card with a SIM card package and the KTC is usually sold alone as far as I know.

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KOREA TOUR CARD

• Smart Tourist Information System

Korea’s public transportation system is well-known for being convenient, inexpensive and clean. The KOREA TOUR CARD is a transit card for international tourists. Use it to pay for different types of public transport and enjoy a wide range of benefits offered by some 180 tourist attractions, performance venues, restaurants, shops, and many others in South Korea!

Going to visit Busan, Yeosu, Tongyeong, or other southern coastal areas? Use KOREA TOUR CARD Namhaean Coast. Some 220 benefits offered by existing KOREA TOUR CARD affiliates and by special attractions of the Namhaean coast are waiting for you.

How to purchase KOREA TOUR CARD

KOREA TOUR CARDs are available in airports, major convenience store branches, vending machines in subways, banks, etc. at KRW 4,000. (Money for transportation should be added separately)

For more information on KOREA TOUR CARD online reservation, visit the website.

Mobile KOREA TOUR CARD

Mobile KOREA TOUR CARD is the mobile app version of the KOREA TOUR CARD. With the NFC function of your mobile phone, users can use it to pay not only for public transportation (subway, bus, taxi, etc.) but also for purchases at Starbucks, McDonalds, and convenience stores. Don’t miss out the benefits for cultural events and tourist destinations provided to you on the KOREA TOUR CARD.

Just run the App on boarding!

Charge and refund with your credit/debit card

Check balance anywhere, anytime!

Precautions

Before use, check your wireless connection and make sure NFC is enabled.

Enable the app and use the card when the screen is turned on.

Works only on mobile phones with Android OS 5.0.1 or above and NFC function.

The credit card/debit card supports VISA / Master / JCB / Amex / Union Pay only.

Where to Purchase

Where to Top Up and Refund

KOREA TOUR CARD can be topped up at the following locations.

Please noted that the card price(4,000KRW) is not refundable.

Inquiry: 1330 Korea Travel Hotline

KOREA TOUR CARD’s maximum balance cannot be more than 500,000 KRW.

koreadeepdive.com

KOREA TOUR CARD : Explore Korea with Ease and Savings

Introducing the Ultimate Travel Card

Are you planning your dream trip to South Korea? Don’t leave without your best travel companion. Korea Tour Card! This unique transit card, designed exclusively for international tourists, guarantees a convenient, affordable, and seamless travel experience.

More than just a Transit Card

This special card is not just for public transportation. It’s your access to a wide array of benefits across approximately 180 tourist attractions, performance venues, restaurants, shops, and much more. It’s your ticket to the best that Korea has to offer.

The Namhaean Coast Edition

If you’re exploring the beautiful southern coastal areas like Busan, Yeosu, or Tongyeong, this unique travel card’s Namhaean Coast Edition is your perfect partner. Enjoy over 220 exclusive benefits and unique experiences from affiliated locations and special coastal attractions.

How to Purchase Your Unique Travel Card

Ready to start your journey? This unique travel card is available at airports, major convenience stores, subway vending machines, banks, and more for just KRW 4,000 (additional transportation costs to be loaded separately).

Travel Smart and Hassle-Free with the Mobile Version

For a more digital savvy experience, try the mobile version. This app-version allows you to pay for transportation and make purchases at Starbucks, McDonald’s, convenience stores, and more using just your phone’s NFC function. It also provides exclusive benefits for cultural events and popular tourist destinations.

A World of Discounts with Your Unique Travel Card

Your travel card is your passport to a world of savings. Enjoy admission discounts, free coupons, gifts, and more at various affiliate establishments. Make sure to check the website regularly as the list of participating establishments and benefits change frequently.

Refunds and Recharge: Simple and Convenient

Remember, this card is a prepaid card. To refund any unused balance, simply visit any major convenience store branch nationwide, a Tmoney service center at a subway station, or Tmoney Town. Recharge your card easily at convenience stores or subway stations, with a maximum limit of KRW 500,000 and payments accepted only in Korean Won.

Conclusion: Your Best Travel Companion in Korea

With all these features and benefits, this unique travel card truly is your ultimate travel companion in Korea. Get yours today, and make your Korean journey unforgettable!

If you’re seeking to explore the beautiful historical landmarks of South Korea, please refer to the following link. Your journey to the past awaits.

7 Must Visit Historic Sites in Korea

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Korea Information Note

How to use Tmoney card in South Korea Public transportation

Learn how to purchase, use, and top up Tmoney, a widely used payment method for public transportation in Korea. With Tmoney, you can not only pay for your commute, but also make purchases at convenience stores, supermarkets, and more. Find out where to buy Tmoney, how to top it up, and how to use it with our step-by-step guide.

1. What is the Tmoney and Tour card?

The Korea Tour Card, an exclusive card just for foreign tourists, allows you to use public transportation more conveniently, including the subway, bus and taxi. This card provides discount benefits for a variety of tourist spots, including shopping centers, restaurants, and theaters. Don’t miss out on this must-have item for your trip in Korea.

2. Tmoney card user guide

Korea tour card is a pre-paid transit card that offers various benefits for foreign tourists. Check the special benefits for tourists at  www.koreatourcard.kr

Tmoney can be used on public transportation(bus, subway, taxi, airport express bus, express bus) and Tmoney affiliated stores.

Available at major convenience stores and subway station.

3. How to top-up/refund the Korea Tour card(Include Tmoney)

Present your card and cash(in Korean won) for top-up in Tmoney sales locations. You can top-up the card in the unit of KRW 1,000, in the range of KRW 1,000 to KRW 90,000. The amount of money deposited in Tmoney may not exceed KRW 500,000.

Present your Tmoney card and inform the staff how much you want to refund in Tmoney card sales Top-up locations. The refund will be given to you in cash in Korean won along with card.

– Refund does not include the cost of card.

– The service fee of KRW 500 will be charged.

– Partial refund is not possible. Only entire refund allowed.

4 Where to top-up/refund the Korea Tour Card (Tmoney)

4.1 convenience stores.

– GS25, 7-Eleven, MINISTOP, Story Way, Emart 24

4.2 Subway stations(Top-up Only)

– Top-up machine including One-time ticket issuer, Tmoney vending machine, portable reload machine.

– Information Center

Tmoney Town(Seoul Stn Exit #10, Seoul City Tower 1F)

5. How to use the Korea Tour Card (Tmoney)

Place your card in front of sensor for a moment(sensing takes about 0.5 second).

5.1 Discount

If you use public transportation with your Tmoney card, you can get a discount of KRW 100 or more for each ride.

– Children or youth card users can enjoy the discounted fare if they register their card with their date of birth in convenience stores, by presenting their Tmoney and ID Card (i.e. passport, certificates of alien registration).

– Adults using children or youth cards will be subject to a fine worth 30 times that of the base fare.

5.2 Transfer discount

Tmoney card holders can enjoy up to four discounts a day, if they transfer within a transfer time limit of 30 minutes (up to 1hour from 9pm to 7am next day).

– The discount is applicable to transfer from subway to bus & vice versa, and between one bus to another. (excluding buses running along the same route)

 6. Conclusion

Tmoney is one of the most commonly used payment methods for public transportation in Korea. It is very easy to purchase and use Tmoney. You can buy it at various places such as convenience stores, subway stations, and bus stops, and it can be easily topped up.

Using Tmoney allows you to make payments at various places , not just for public transportation. When using Tmoney, make sure to check your balance and top up when necessary. If you lose or have your Tmoney stolen, you should report it on the Tmoney website.

Tmoney is a very useful payment method for living in Korea. We encourage you to actively use Tmoney to enjoy a convenient life.

7. FAQ’s

Q: What are some things to be careful of when using Tmoney?

A: Make sure to check your balance when using Tmoney. If your balance is low, you will need to top up.

Q : What should you do if you lose or have your Tmoney stolen?

A: You should report the loss or theft of your Tmoney on the Tmoney website.

Q: Can you only use cash to top up Tmoney?

A: You can use a credit card or debit card to top up Tmoney through a mobile app.

Q: Where can you use Tmoney?

A: You can use Tmoney at various places such as public transportation , convenience stores, supermarkets, and cafes

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Hi, would like some opinions and advice on the travel passes.

Will be travelling to Korea end of March and intend to visit seoul, busan and jeju island.

You mean this one? http://www.koreagrandsale.co.kr/en/kTourCard

I was given one by the hotel as welcome gift when I was there during Grand Sale period. I was told it was a card for shopping discounts and could act like T-money for bus and metro.

Don’t think it can be used for trains.

And not sure if this card is available beyond Grand Sale period.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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South Korea Hotels and Places to Stay

2024 Korea Tourist Card Guide: Transport, Shopping & More!

We regret not preparing our Korea tourist cards including the T-Money Card as well as other travel essentials such as the  SIM card , eSIM , and pocket WiFi on our previous Korea trips. We just winged it and thought we could easily buy them upon arrival anyway.

Don’t be like us – it pays to have these Korea travel essentials ready before your trip. This will save you the hassle of having to look for stores offering them in Korea. And, you may actually save on costs since you can strategically plan your Korea itinerary with all the benefits in mind.

Best Korea tourist cards for transportation, shopping, and e-money

1. t-money card.

It’s a no-brainer. A T-Money Card should be the first thing that you should prepare before your Korea trip. It is the most popular Korea transport card with the largest number of affiliated partners. You can mainly use your T-Money Card to pay for public transportation like trains, buses, and taxis. Aside from that, you may also use it to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and retail brands.

Read our T-Money Card guide for more information on the costs, where to buy, and benefits.

BUY T-MONEY CARD

Cashless payments are a thing in South Korea. In fact, many stores no longer accept cash payments. With the WOWPASS , you can use it as a prepaid debit card to pay for your purchases in Korea. Aside from that, it also serves as a Korea transport card so you can pay for public transportation including trains, buses, and taxis. You can top-up, withdraw, or exchange currencies at machines found in airports, subways, and even hotels.

This special Korea tourist card offers better exchange rates than banks, airports, or money changers, and accepts 16 currencies including USD, EUR, SGD, HKD, and even PHP. What’s even better is that it also offers brand cashback benefits, which is really great for tourists who love shopping and dining in Korea. You can check your balance, history, and benefits by downloading the WOWPASS mobile app .

BUY WOWPASS

3. NAMANE Card

A NAMANE Card is a prepaid travel card in Korea you can use as payment for transport and offline purchases. But what sets this card apart from the rest is that it is customizable. This means you can design your own card, making it a cute souvenir item from Korea .

Another advantage of this Korea tourist card is that there is no authentication needed and no limit to who can use the card, so even minors can use it. You may download the NAMANE Card app to check your balance and transactions.

BUY NAMANE CARD

Best Korea tourist cards and passes for attractions

4. discover seoul pass.

If you are mainly exploring the capital city of Seoul and nearby places, we highly recommend that you get a Discover Seoul Pass . With this Korea tourist card, you get FREE or discounted access to over 100 tourist attractions in Seoul and beyond like Lotte World , N Seoul Tower , Nami Island , and so much more!

Choose from 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour validity, depending on your trip duration. The card itself also serves as your Korea transport card where you can top-up to pay for public transport.

Check out our Discover Seoul Pass guide where we discussed the benefits, costs, and sample itinerary in greater detail.

BUY DISCOVER SEOUL PASS

5. Klook Seoul Pass

If you are staying longer in Korea, we recommend the Klook Seoul Pass as it is valid for 30 days. You can handpick the top attractions you want to visit without squeezing them into a number of days like the Discover Seoul Pass, which will force you to use it within 24 hours to 72 hours, depending on what you avail.

With the Klook Seoul Pass, you have the freedom to pick the attractions you want to visit and when to visit them. Choose from 2, 3, or 4-attraction passes and get up to 52% discount. Some of the top attractions include Everland, Nami Island, N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, and COEX Aquarium to name a few.

BUY KLOOK SEOUL PASS

Korea travel essentials for communication and connectivity

6. korea sim card.

South Korea is one of the countries with the fastest internet speed so you are assured that the data from their SIM cards are of top quality. If you are traveling solo or as a couple, we recommend that you get a SIM card since it’s handy and more efficient than getting another device like a pocket WiFi. You can even get an eSIM if you don’t want to insert another SIM card into your mobile phone.

There are various Korea SIM card options to choose from. You may read our Korea SIM card guide so you can compare the prices and advantages.

BUY KOREA eSIM

7. Korea Pocket WiFi

If you are traveling in groups, we suggest that you get a pocket WiFi instead since it can be shared with up to 5 devices. A pocket WiFi actually costs less than a SIM card, but there are also disadvantages to it like the battery life may only last for 7 to 9 hours, and you need to physically return the device before you fly back home.

You may read our Korea pocket WiFi guide so you can see the costs and benefits before making a decision.

RENT POCKET WIFI

These are some of the best Korea tourist cards, transportation cards, and travel items we wished we paid more attention to and actually bought when we went to Korea. So, if we were you, secure your Korea tourist card ahead and you’ll thank us later!

Before you go, you may be interested to read our 5-day Korea winter itinerary , 5-day Korea spring itinerary , and Korean street food guide .

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Key takeaways

• Retail websites often ask you for your credit card information to complete a transaction, and they’d like to be able to hold on to that information for the future.
• If you aren’t comfortable storing your card information on a website, you should be able to check out as a guest or remove your payment information from the website after checking out.
• Websites can sometimes be designed to manipulate consumer choices — if there’s no way of opting out of having your information stored, you could take the issue up with the FTC or other authorities.

When you’re shopping online, you’ve probably seen retailers ask if you’d like to save your card information. While the rationale is that doing so is a convenience for you, it also creates a sticky situation that’s beneficial for the merchant since it encourages you to come back for future shopping.

While you should have the choice to decide whether you want to save your card information with a particular merchant, you may also find that you don’t have the chance to opt out of the situation.

As an example, reader Juanita recently shared that, “A local sports facility offers summer classes for kids. Weekly sessions can be purchased individually, and the person must register each time they sign up for a session. They only accept credit card payments, and although their payment form powered by EZ Facility offers the option to uncheck the statement ‘I authorize Longplex LLC to store my credit card information for future payments,’ the ability to uncheck it isn’t available.”

Understandably, Juanita wanted to know if this behavior was lawful. Here’s what she needs to know.

How to remove card information from an online site

Many merchants will ask you to set up an account and provide your personal information before you make a purchase, including your credit card details . However, some websites will also allow you to check out as a guest so that you don’t have to store your personal information on the site.

In case you have concerns about your card information being compromised and don’t have the option of checking out as a guest, you can complete your purchase and then remove your card information from the website. You should be able to do this by going to your account on the website and looking up your payment information. From there, you should be able to remove or delete the card information you provided earlier for your transaction.

Dark patterns undermine consumer choice

While this process seems simple enough, be aware that some merchants make it deliberately difficult for you to effectively exercise this option.

One way they do this is by designing their sites to utilize dark patterns that subvert your choices. For example, according to the Federal Trade Commission, dark patterns incorporate design elements that:

• Don’t allow consumers to “definitely reject” collection or use of data
• Repeatedly lead consumers to select settings they don’t favor and want to avoid
• Use confusing settings that lead consumers to make privacy choices they did not intend to choose
• Highlight choices that make for more information collection, while “graying out” options that allow consumers to avoid this
• Purposefully obscure privacy choices and make them difficult to find
• Use default settings that are geared to maximize data collection and storage

What if you can’t opt out of having a website store your information?

In Juanita’s case, if a website doesn’t allow for opting out of storing your credit card information — since she can’t uncheck the option to store the information — that seems like a design element with a dark patterns agenda.

In addition to the FTC, various state authorities have also been cracking down on dark patterns that are aimed at thwarting consumers’ choices. For instance, the California Consumer Privacy Act , the Colorado Privacy Act and similar legislation in Connecticut weigh in on the use of online dark patterns.

If Juanita wants to opt out of having a website store her card information, but finds that she can’t exercise that option, she should first see if she can resolve the matter with the merchant. If that doesn’t work, she could take up the issue with the appropriate authorities.

For one, she could file a report with the FTC . The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been concerned about businesses using dark patterns to manipulate consumers, and she could put in a complaint with that agency. In addition, she could turn to her state attorney general for guidance.

The bottom line

Although retailer websites want to hold on to your card information to make it more likely that you’ll shop with them in future, you should be able to check out as a guest if you don’t want your personal details stored. If you don’t have that option, you can also try to complete your transaction and then remove your card information from the website.

If a website is designed so that your option to decline the storing of your credit card information cannot be exercised, it seems you’re being manipulated. If you can’t sort out the situation with the merchant, consider filing a complaint with the appropriate authorities.

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