Getting around Seoul with T-Money Card

On 8/28/2011 08:53:00 PM
Pin It

One of the best way to get around Seoul is the subway (지하철 jihacheol). Don't be nervous and intimidated by the complexities of the subway networks when you are doing self-guided sightseeing, it isn't that difficult once you have tried it.


For tourists like us, we used the subway extensively and the most convenient way is to get a T-Money Card. The T-money card is like a prepaid credit card that can be used on any subways, buses, some taxis or even public telephones, convenience stores and some vending machines. Besides being ultra-convenient, the T-Money card also gives you discounts off the cash fare. If you use the subway a lot, those savings add up!

Where can I buy a T-Money card?
You can buy it from any subway station counter or any convenience stores like GS25, Family Mart, 7-Eleven and MINISTOP that have the T-Money sign displayed. It only cost KRW 2,500 (RM 7.13) and you will need to add money to the card before using it.


How to recharge a T-Money card?
The easiest method for us is via the ticket vending machines. If you are technically challenged, you can always buy the credit from the convenience stores or subway ticket counter. You don't really need to speak Korean – just hand them your card and the cash amount you wanted to add.


  1. The vending machines operate in either Korean, English, Chinese or Japanese. Just select your language preference and the rest of the menu will be in the selected language.
  2. Touch the T-Money card icon on the right side of the screen.
  3. Place your T-Money card on the electronic card reader marked with the T-Money logo.
  4. Select the cash amount you wish to add to your card.
  5. Place the money into the machine.
  6. Wait until the recharging process is completed, and don't forget to take the card with you.

How do I use the T-Money card?
Simple! Just scan your T-Money card on the card reader on your way in and out of the subway. The display will show you how much has been deducted from your card and the current balance.


Why use a T-Money card?
  • It's really convenient and save up your time queuing up for a ticket.
  • The base transit fare for a T-Money card passenger is KRW 800 compared to a normal ticket KRW 900.
  • You get a 10% bonus whenever you top up your card. If you recharge KRW 10,000, you will actually have KRW 11,000 added to your card!
Can I get a refund for the remaining balance?
T-Money cards have no expiration date and the unused balance will remain on your card until the entire amount is used up. You can receive a refund for the balance on your card at convenience stores like GS25 that charges KRW 500 (RM 1.43) fee and the card price of KRW 2,500 is not refundable.

Things to note
  • The corner seats are given priority to the older citizens, disabled or pregnant ladies. We mistakenly sat on it once and was innocently scolded by an old man. *sad!*
  • Even though you have taken a general seat, it is common to give up your seat for an elderly rider as the Korean culture emphasizes on respecting the elders.
  • Residents in Seoul aged 65 and older crossed the 1 million mark and that accounts for 9.7% of all 10.31 million Seoul residents. Yes, the subway is packed with elderly citizens!
  • Korean culture tolerates a higher degree of incidental pushing and without needing to apologize every time you bump into somebody. As such, subway-riding Koreans might be a bit aggressive to certain tourists. Don't sweat it, it's the culture!
  • Most of the Koreans have the ability of walking through hordes of people while staring only at their phone.
  • Try not to use your T-Money card on taxi. There is a possibility of meeting a less honest taxi driver that scanned your card but telling you that it isn't working somehow.

24 Response to 'Getting around Seoul with T-Money Card'

  1. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1369261267356#c5894113464383202860'> May 23, 2013 at 6:21 AM

    Hey! I simply want to give an enormous thumbs up for the great information you have got right here on this post.
    I will be coming back to your weblog for extra
    soon.

    Feel free to surf to my webpage :: SEM

     

  2. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1369268083322#c6186369888520004258'> May 23, 2013 at 8:14 AM

    Howdy! I just would like to give a huge thumbs
    up for the nice information you will have here on
    this post. I can be coming again to your weblog for more soon.


    Feel free to surf to my web blog - 排名優化

     

  3. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1369268085130#c6481062028567518299'> May 23, 2013 at 8:14 AM

    Hiya! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you might have right here on
    this post. I shall be coming again to your blog for extra soon.


    My site ... SEO收費

     

  4. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1369740161713#c1011399058151068210'> May 28, 2013 at 7:22 PM

    Do you individuals have a fb fan page? I appeared for one on twitter however could not discover one, I would like to become a fan!


    My web page having trouble getting pregnant after a miscarriage

     

  5. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1369861059528#c1023962181997189952'> May 30, 2013 at 4:57 AM

    Whats up! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great information you may have here
    on this post. I might be coming back to your weblog for more soon.


    Review my web page; semi auto hunting rifles for sale

     

  6. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370154624938#c5892647238731393984'> June 2, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    Good day! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great information you will
    have here on this post. I can be coming back to your weblog for more soon.


    my blog post; http://free-seo-tools-service.blogspot.com

     

  7. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370168550172#c1522789199548852169'> June 2, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    Hi there! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the nice
    information you may have here on this post.
    I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.

    Also visit my blog post - seoul weather late march

     

  8. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370181963018#c8324967009495356796'> June 2, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    Good day! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good data you’ve gotten
    right here on this post. I might be coming back to your blog
    for more soon.

    My homepage snsd seohyun wiki drama

     

  9. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370317083154#c7835267713181186067'> June 4, 2013 at 11:38 AM

    Good day! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great
    information you have here on this post. I will be
    coming again to your blog for extra soon.

    My web-site - semantics meaning in programming language

     

  10. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370417991760#c8594167823442797907'> June 5, 2013 at 3:39 PM

    Hello! I simply would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great data you’ve right here on this post.
    I shall be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.


    My blog post ... semester at sea death fall 2012

     

  11. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370420682828#c6068000621332921746'> June 5, 2013 at 4:24 PM

    Hiya! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the good info you have
    right here on this post. I will be coming back to your weblog for more soon.


    My website - stem cell research facts

     

  12. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370498888885#c3408452800433984141'> June 6, 2013 at 2:08 PM

    Hello! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the nice information you will have here on this post.
    I shall be coming again to your weblog for more soon.


    Here is my blog post - bidam of queen seon deok character

     

  13. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370516962396#c5750089592127605658'> June 6, 2013 at 7:09 PM

    Hiya! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the good data you may
    have here on this post. I will likely be coming
    again to your blog for more soon.

    Stop by my homepage piazza sempione dresses in size 50

     

  14. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370546546069#c4912568224091402447'> June 7, 2013 at 3:22 AM

    Hello! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the nice
    info you’ve here on this post. I can be coming back to your blog for more soon.


    Look at my homepage - 網站排名

     

  15. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370553322789#c3025111514609154667'> June 7, 2013 at 5:15 AM

    Hiya! I simply wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the
    great information you will have right here on this post.
    I will be coming back to your weblog for extra soon.

    Here is my homepage - localhost posizionamento index php pagina search engine optimization marketing

     

  16. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370585685090#c337653930513856640'> June 7, 2013 at 2:14 PM

    Good day! I simply would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice information you have here on this
    post. I shall be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.


    Here is my web blog; search engine optimization tips and tricks

     

  17. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370589946790#c509577250469578940'> June 7, 2013 at 3:25 PM

    Hey! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the good information you may
    have right here on this post. I will be coming again to
    your weblog for extra soon.

    Look into my web page - how many semesters in a year colleges

     

  18. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1370945059747#c2703483102007063862'> June 11, 2013 at 6:04 PM

    Good day! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the good information you’ve right here
    on this post. I might be coming again to your blog
    for extra soon.

    my page: how long is 3 semesters in college

     

  19. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1371010958674#c8852210536980565653'> June 12, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    Good day! I simply wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the
    great info you have got right here on this post.
    I will likely be coming again to your blog for more soon.


    Here is my web blog stem cells journal

     

  20. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1371133011745#c8054880420003103016'> June 13, 2013 at 10:16 PM

    Whats up! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the good info you’ve
    got here on this post. I will probably be coming again
    to your blog for extra soon.

    Feel free to surf to my homepage; seminole community college nursing requirements

     

  21. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1371302649008#c24360871539320125'> June 15, 2013 at 9:24 PM

    Hi there! I just want to give an enormous thumbs up for
    the nice data you have right here on this post. I can be coming back to your weblog for extra soon.



    Feel free to surf to my site - definition of semiotics by saussure

     

  22. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1371392613696#c4776597838663749097'> June 16, 2013 at 10:23 PM

    Whats up! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up
    for the great info you’ve here on this post.
    I might be coming back to your blog for more soon.


    Take a look at my web page - ipad 2 cases pink with keyboard

     

  23. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1402535144301#c6308936725215049997'> June 12, 2014 at 9:05 AM

    Hey there! I'm at work surfing around your blog from
    my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
    Carry on the great work!

    Look at my blog ... long island mold inspection

     

  24. Anonymous Said,
    http://eatlah.blogspot.com/2011/08/getting-around-seoul-with-t-money-card.html?showComment=1403198812516#c3218424660672544048'> June 20, 2014 at 1:26 AM

    Seeіng you out and about will kick his ego into overdrive and
    he will do whateveг he cаn tߋ make you notiϲe him agаin. It will be
    a very interesting game to Ьe played by both of you and your man will love this more than anything else.
    But perhaps you can never believe, now, that there is anything human in my heart.


    Also visіt my site ... make him desire you pdf

     

    Recent Posts

    Recent Comments