🚇 T-money or Pass?
Tell us how long you're in Seoul and how much you'll ride. We'll work out whether an unlimited pass saves you money.
- T-money, pay as you go
- Climate Card pass
Before you buy a pass
- Seoul only. The pass covers Seoul's subway and city buses, but not the Shinbundang Line, Gyeonggi buses, airport limousine buses or trains outside Seoul.
- Not from the airport. You can't start an airport train trip at Incheon with it, so use T-money for your first ride into the city.
- It starts the day you charge it and runs until the last train. You can't charge it in advance.
- Buy it at the newer machines in Line 1–8 stations, which accept Visa and Mastercard as well as cash.
- Going to Busan too? T-money works there; the pass doesn't.
Full details: Korea transit cards compared. Fares checked October 2026.
Questions
What counts as one trip?
A journey from where you start to where you are going, including any free transfers between subway lines or between subway and bus. If you tap out and start a new journey later, that is a new trip.
Can I buy the Climate Card pass with a foreign card?
Yes. Since March 2026 the newer machines in Seoul subway stations on Lines 1 to 8 accept Visa and Mastercard for Climate Card passes and single tickets, with a small fee. You can also pay in cash.
Why do you add the price of the card?
Both options need a physical card that costs a few thousand won and is not refunded. Including it shows the real cost of a short trip, where the card price can make up a large share.
What if I am visiting Busan too?
Only count the days you will spend riding in Seoul. The Climate Card does not work in Busan, but a T-money card does, so many visitors use a pass in Seoul and keep a topped-up T-money card for the rest of the trip.